I will start with the negative comments regarding this book and say that the prose does tend to be somewhat dry. This does not make for the easiest of readings and additionally, I often found Gilfoyle's tendency to state a point and then simply list examples of individuals to back his claim tedious and clumsy.Also, the focus is somewhat meandering. Despite the title, City Of Eros doesn't necessarily stick to it's topic of prostitution but ends up venturing into the areas of pornography and literature. There is one utterly pointless chapter entitled 'A Gay Literature' which deals exculsively with the role of the prostitute in literature which I felt was wholly unnecessary and diverting.But this is where the criticisms end. In the main, City of Eros is a splendidly researched piece that at it's best moments, truly conjures up the spirit, atmosphere and grunge of 19th Century New York. The slums of Five Points is truly brought to life as is the general experience of being a prostitute/madam/pimp/customer in those times. The sense that one comes away with is that of a city riddled with overt prostitution - it was everywhere, in plain view and considered to be an integral and accepted part of New York society. It's also interesting to note how little has changed regarding the media's hysterical portrayal of prostitution. The truth is that, then as now, coercion was rarely employed. Most women who engaged in this kind of activity did so for short periods of time in between employment or even to supplement the low incomes earned as seamstresses and servants.Also noteworthy are the vivid descriptions of the male sporting culture which viewed the frequenting of brothels and promiscuity as being expressions of ultra-masculine behavior, expressions that reflected a rebellion against the taming and control of male sexuality that marriage was percieved to have involved.New York was definitely a rough and wild town once upon a time. City Of Eros does an excellent job in conjuring up that wildness for our dainty 21st Century sensibilities.