"The Virgin Cure" by Ami McKay

   This historical novel was inspired by a photograph of the author's great great grandmother, who had been a doctor in New York City in the late-1800's, caring for the poor. 
  Rather than have the doctor as the central character, the author chose to focus on a 12-year-old girl named "Moth".
   Moth grew up in poverty, with a father who abandoned the family and a mother who made her business in fortune telling and sold Moth as a maid to a woman of society.  Quote: "The woman of society does little but doff and don dry goods".  There was much description of complex layers of clothing.  The wealthy women changed their attire often.  However, this 'woman of society' was abusive and Moth escaped into the streets of New York, joining a multitude of homeless street children.  In fact, it is recorded that there were 30,000 children living on the streets of New York in 1871.
   Moth had a vision of wealth that she yearned to attain, spending time watching Miss. Keteltas' house constantly, every chance she had to pass it- looking in the windows, walking around the house, dreaming about the house and its furnishings.  
  Moth was enticed into a brothel where she was groomed by Miss. Everett, while Dr. Sadie, who climbed in and out of tenements caring for the poor, tried to save Moth.  Moth was only 12, but felt that she must complete her contract with the brothel, and then immediately escaped to Dr. Sadie's home after giving up her virginity to the highest bidder.
  Moth did end up 'a woman of society' by working for Mr. Dink's Museum and Palace of Illusion.
  Whoops!   I gave away the ending.  But there is much description of New York in this time period that is certainly worth reading. 
  There is talk of "first-time men"' who want to have sex with virgins.  Often their purpose was to cure syphilis, which was rampant.  Thus, the title "The Virgin Cure".
   The author does a great deal of research for her books.  In this novel there were sidebars with quotes from newspapers and magazines of the day, letters, and other information from that time period in New York City.
  Some people found the sidebars annoying and others found that it added to the authenticity of the novel.

Ami Mckay

  Ami KcKay is known for her first book "The Birth House" (c2006), which was very popular.  "The Virgin Cure" was written in 2011.  Ami has written 3 other novels and recently published a memoir of her family's medical history.