Madam: The Biography of Polly Adler, Icon of the Jazz Age by Debby Applegate

Polly Adler, a woman whose name has become synonymous with the 'Jazz Age' of the 1920s, is one of the most influential figures in American social history. Debby Applegate's biography, Madam: The Biography of Polly Adler, Icon of the Jazz Age, is a must-read for anyone interested in Adler's extraordinary life or the fascinating era in which she lived.

The book paints an intimate portrait of Adler's life. Applegate begins with Adler's childhood in czarist Russia, where she grew up in a Jewish family of modest means. Adler's father wanted her to have a more privileged life than the one she was born into, so he encouraged her to marry, which Adler did for the first time at age 15. After her husband abandoned her, Adler moved to America, settling in New York City, where she eventually opened a brothel.

Adler's brothel quickly became a hotspot for New York's elite, where celebrities such as Billie Holiday, Mae West, and Woodrow Wilson all reportedly enjoyed her services. Applegate details her burgeoning success and the tightrope Adler had to walk between the elite and the underworld. Adler was revered by her clients, according to the book, and she even presented an honorary membership card to Franklin Roosevelt. By the time the police raided her home in 1928, Adler’s business had grown to include 26 brothels and hundreds of employees.

However, Applegate also shines light on a different side of Adler. She was well known for her philanthropy, donating to numerous charities. Though she was constantly hampered by her illegal enterprise, she was also admired for her business acumen and lived a luxurious life herself. Applegate delves into Adler’s personal relationships and the struggles she faced throughout her lifetime, including the death of her daughter and her eventual departure from New York City.

Applegate's biography of Adler is unflinching, yet loving. Applegate's research is meticulous and detailed, and she conveys the drama of Adler's life without embellishment. Though Adler faced many hardships throughout her life, she also managed to fight for recognition and often succeeded. In the end, Unborn retains its relevance to this day, illustrating how Adler and many women of her era managed to achieve success in a culture that often times excluded them.

Madam: The Biography of Polly Adler, Icon of the Jazz Age is an essential read for anyone interested in a narrative of the social history of the 1920s or the amazing life of India's Polly Adler. Applegate's combination of exhaustive research and intimate storytelling creates an in-depth look into the life of a woman whose brilliance and resilience make her an enduring icon of the Jazz Age.