Fascinating New Yorkers: Power Freaks, Mobsters, Liberated Women, Creators, Queers and Crazies

The scond title in the Wild New York series.  This collection of posts from Clifford Browder's blog includes

a prostitute's daughter who got to know two ex-kings and a future emperor;

a cardinal archbishop known in certain circles as "Franny";

a serial killer who terrorized the city;

a baroness who wore teaspoon earrings and a tomato-can bra;

and a pioneer in female erotica who had two husbands and kept a "lie box" to keep her two lives straight.

And many more, some remembered today and some forgotten, who fulfilled themselves richly or horrendously in the wild and crazy city of New York. Some of these people Browder knew or encountered briefly, and some he got to know through their works. He relates surprising things about J.P. Morgan and his nose; Nicky (Mr. Untouchable) Barnes; Ayn Rand, the high priestess of egoism; and Polly Adler, Queen of Tarts. Getting to know these New Yorkers, readers will be shocked or angered, puzzled or amused, but never bored.