**LonglistedfortheBrooklynPublicLibraryBookPrizeinNonfiction(2023)****AnAmazonEDITOR’SPICKforBESTBOOKSOF2023SOFARinBIOGRAPHY/MEMOIRandHISTORY****AnAmazonEDITOR’SPICKforBESTBOOKSOFTHEMONTH(March2023)****ABookshop.OrgEDITOR’SPICK(March2023)**“ThisisthestoryofoneoftheboldestwomeninAmericanhistory:self-mademillionaire,acelebrityinherera,awomanbelovedbyherpatientsanddespisedbythemenwhowantedtocontrolthem.“Anindustriousimmigrantwhobuiltherbusinessfromthegroundup,MadameRestellwasaself-taughtsurgeononthecuttingedgeofhealthcareinpre-GildedAgeNewYork,andherbustling“boardinghouse“providedbirthcontrol,abortions,andmedicalassistancetothousandsofwomen--richandpooralike.Asherpracticeexpanded,hernotorietyswelled,andRestellestablishedher-selfasaprimetargetfortabloids,threats,andlawsuitsgalore.Butfarfromfadingintothebackground,shedefiantlyflauntedherwealth,paradingacrossthecityindesignerclothes,expensivejewelry,andbejeweledcarriages,rubbinghersuccessinthefacesofthemanypoliticians,publishers,fellowphysicians,andreligiousfiguresdeterminedtobringherdown.UnfortunatelyforMadameRestell,herrisetothetopofherfieldcoincidedwith“thegreatestscamyou’veneverheardabout“--thecampaigntocurtailwomen’spowerbyrestrictingtheiraccesstobothhealthcareandcareersoftheirown.Powerful,secularmen--threatenedbywomen’sburgeoningindependence--wereeagertodeclareabortionsinful,apositionendorsedbynewly-mintedmaleMDswholongedtoedgeouttheirfemininecompetitionandturnmedicineintoastandardized,male-onlypractice.Byunravelingthemisogynisticandmisleadingliesthatputwomen’slivesinjeopardy,WrightsimultaneouslyrestoresRestelltoherrightfulplaceinhistoryandobliteratesthefaultyreasoningunderlyingtheveryfoundationofwhathassincebeendubbedthe“pro-life“movement.Thought-provoking,character-driven,boldlywritten,andfeministashell,MadameRestellisrequiredreadingforanyoneandeveryonewhobelievesthatwhenitcomestowomen’srights,women’sbodies,andwomen’shistory,womenshouldhavethelastword.
