Harriette Wilson

Paris Lions and London Tigers (Dodo Press) Harriette Wilson

Harriette Wilson, nee Dubouchet (1786-1845), was a celebrated British Regency courtesan, whose conquests included the Prince of Wales, the Lord Chancellor and four future Prime Ministers. She began her career at the age of fifteen, becoming the mistress of William Craven, 1st Earl of Craven, 7th Baron Craven. At the age of forty she decided to secure her financial future by publishing her own autobiography. She and her publisher decided to blackmail her lovers. Among her lovers was Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, who commented "publish, and be damned" when informed of her plans to write her memoirs. They were published in 1825 under the title Memoirs of Harriette Wilson, Written by Herself and immediately became bestselling. Her writings were mediocre and were poorly received by both readers and critics. Her other works include: Paris Lions and London Tigers (1825) and Clara Gazul (1830).