Madame Restell

The Life, Death, and Resurrection of Old New York's Most Fabulous, Fearless, and Infamous Abortionist

By: Jennifer Wright

Narrated by: Mara Wilson

Discover the true story of a self-taught surgeon and trailblazing figure in medical history—Madame Restsell, a revolutionary surgeon who fought for women's rights and healthcare in Gilded Age New York.

Madame Restell is a sharp, witty Gilded Age medical history which introduces us to an iconic, yet tragically overlooked, feminist heroine: a glamorous women’s healthcare provider in Manhattan, known to the world as Madame Restell. A celebrity in her day with a flair for high fashion and public, petty beefs, Restell was a self-made woman and single mother who used her wit, her compassion, and her knowledge of family medicine to become one of the most in-demand medical workers in New York. Not only that, she used her vast resources to care for the most vulnerable women of the city: unmarried women in need of abortions, birth control, and other medical assistance. In defiance of increasing persecution from powerful men, Restell saved the lives of thousands of young women and, in fact, as author Jennifer Wright says in own words, “despite having no formal training and a near-constant steam of women knocking at her door, she never lost a patient.” Restell was a revolutionary who opened the door to the future of reproductive choice for women, and Wright brings Restell and her circle to life in this dazzling, sometimes dark, and thoroughly entertaining tale.

In addition to uncovering the forgotten history of Restell herself, the book also doubles as an eye-opening look into the “greatest American scam you’ve never heard about”: the campaign to curtail women’s power by restricting their access to healthcare. Before the 19th century, abortion and birth control were not only legal in the United States, but fairly common, and public healthcare needs (for women and men alike) were largely handled by midwives and female healers. However, after the Birth of the Clinic, newly-minted male MDs wanted to push women out of their space—by forcing women back into the home and turning medicine into a standardized, male-only practice. At the same time, a group of powerful, secular men—threatened by women’s burgeoning independence in other fields—persuaded the Christian leadership to declare abortion a sin, rewriting the meaning of “Christian morality” to protect their own interests. As Wright explains, “their campaign to do so was so insidious—and successful—that it remains largely unrecognized to this day, a century and a half later.” By unraveling the misogynistic and misleading lies that put women’s health in jeopardy, Wright simultaneously restores Restell to her rightful place in history and obliterates the faulty, fractured reasoning underlying the very foundation of what has since been dubbed the “pro-life” movement.

Thought-provoking, character-driven, funny, and feminist as hell, Madame Restell is required listening for anyone and everyone who believes that when it comes to women’s rights, women’s bodies, and women’s history, women should have the last word.

Audiobook features an exclusive conversation between author and narrator.

©2023 Jennifer Wright (P)2023 Hachette Books

Critic reviews

"The narrator, former child-star Mara Wilson, expertly delivers this well-researched and often wonderfully irreverent title. Wilson perfectly captures Wright’s tone, which ranges from informative to righteously indignant to heartfelt, especially... where the author reveals her struggles with fertility and her daughter’s difficult birth. VERDICT: Given the changing legislation on abortion, Wright’s extraordinary feminist history, featuring an impassioned performance by Wilson and a lively discussion between author and narrator, is essential for all library collections."—Library Journal

"Mara Wilson’s engaging, lyrical voice is a suitable match for Jennifer Wright’s biography. In pre-Gilded Age New York City, Madame Restell was a healer and chemist who created and provided reliable birth control and abortion solutions for women who needed help. Wilson deftly navigates the serious medical information and evokes empathy for women who need to end pregnancy for a variety of reasons. Restell was not always well liked but still managed to create a fortune for herself and help countless women. With its quotes from newspapers and journals of the time, this audio provides listeners with much to learn and enjoy."—AudioFile

Should be read by all

This is superbly written and amazingly performed. It was a book I hardly wanted to turn off. It does a fantastic job setting the scene of when Madame Restell lived and worked while telling her story from what records are available. It should be read by everyone. I will recommend it to everyone.

A Must Read

About the historical cycles of healthcare for women. We have not come that far. The battle must continue till women gain their full equality.

Must read

Liked the through history involved in Madam Restell and in abortion and women's issues throughout the Golden Ages. Also enjoyed the interview at the end, more insite into the author and the women picked to preform the reading of this book.

What our fellow women had to endure

What a wonderful book. Enjoyed listening to what women had to suffer through. I had forgotten how hard things could be for my ancestors.

One of my favorite new books!

This is how I’d like to right historical books someday. Really inspirational and an amazing story!

reality, honest unwavering truth!

This flawed woman was a madame because she walked her talk, and this story talked the true walk of her life. Abortion is real, it is exploited, ridiculed, and uncontrollable.
Madame Restell knew the ugly side of love, passion, and the reality of want, especially when the cargo of love is unwanted. this book frees the reader to see past the surface to the other side of marital responsibility, man or wife. Tradition is a rule designed to become untraditional.
The "Leave it to Beaver" conundrum makes the
reality of feminine strength the unspoken word of human sexuality, now the voice of female charge. It is time to share responsibility in pro-choice to to realize the pro-life advocates are but one of the choices, not an authority on anti-abortion. Pro-choice understands that pregnancy is a blessing and a curse. Men, government, or anyone other than the woman with child should allow her to decide her fate and the fate of her child. It's her business!

A Boss Queen

Fascinating history - Madame Restell was a Boss Queen! An ominous warning of where the US might return with the overturn of Roe v. Wade. Narration is a little a little slow for my tastes, but easily fixable by listening at 1.2 speed.

Every woman should listen to this book!

They say history repeats itself.

Given the current political climate and the reversal of Roe v. Wade, women need to hear, listen and understand this country’s history with birth control and a woman’s right to choose.

This fascinating historical book is well researched

Phenomenal!

I loved this book! So timely and universal. Important read for all women. Novel explores health care, access to health care and resources as well as the racial dimensions impacting services. Scary how history is repeating itself. The examination of Madame Restell in the larger context of history was so well explored and written! Loved it!

Loved it

Fabulous and riveting listen. My one and only piece of critical feedback is that the reader tried an Irish(?) accent for quotes specifically voiced by the title character who is from England…