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    Philips, Teresia Constantina. An Apology for the Conduct of Mrs. Teresia Constantia Phillips. Vol. 1 (London, 1748)

    Call number: Wythe Collection. CT 788 .P55 A3 1748

    Publication Date of Volume

    1748

    Location in Volume

    Frontispiece

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    Description

    Teresia Constantia Phillips (1709-1765) was a courtesan famed in London for her memoir, signed here. A serial bigamist, Phillips married at least five times and had relationships with numerous other wealthy men. As a gambit to extort money from her husbands and lovers, she wrote her memoir, promising to omit sections of the book if paid annuities by the men. Her efforts were unsuccessful. In defense of her character and career, Phillips claimed poverty, gender, and the double standards between men and women forced her hand. Her memoir and subsequent lawsuits illuminated the problems with marriage laws at the time.

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    Wythe Collection

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