Belle De Jour: The Intimate Adventures of a London Call Girl - Hardcover

(Brooke Magnanti)

3.32

8,966 ratings by Goodreads

9780297847823: Belle De Jour: The Intimate Adventures of a London Call Girl

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0297847821 ISBN 13: 9780297847823

Publisher: Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 2005

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Belle de Jour is the nom de plume of a high-class call girl working in London.This is her story. From debating the literary merits of the works of Martin Amis with naked clients, entering a hotel with two whips strapped to the lining of her coat, and juggling her love-life with her professional one, Belle's no-holds-barred account of her experiences as a prostitute is frank, funny and completely compelling. Since the summer of 2003, Belle's award-winning website has charted her day-to-day adventures on and off the field. In it, she has confessed her triumphs and disasters in the world of dating, introduced readers to her friends N and 'the four As' and chronicled the ins and outs of her working life. Now she elaborates on those diary entries, revealing how she became a working girl, what it feels like to do it for money - and why she can recommend it - and where to buy the best knickers for the job. Sometimes shocking, often hilarious, always thought-provoking, the 'Intimate Adventures' is the story of a 21st-century Moll Flanders, giving us an illuminating glimpse behind the scenes of the high-class sex-trade, and an insight into the secret life of an extraordinary, ordinary woman.

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About the Author:

Belle de Jour is the nom de plume of a London call girl. She is in her mid-twenties, and lives and works in London. Despite the best endeavours of the press, she remains anonymous.

Review:

'Sometimes shocking, always lively and amusing, Belle is a real Moll Flanders for the 21st century. Her honesty makes for compelling reading.' WATERSTONE'S BOOKS QUARTERLY (January 2005) 'Belle's writing is fluid and funny and it's hard not to admire her total disregard for what others think - you go girl!' -- Shauna Bartlett GLAMOUR (February) 'Belle is sparky; she has a voice.' -- Rachel Cooke NEW STATESMAN (17.1.05) 'Sensational account of the comings and going of one of the capital's escorts.' -- Camilla Long TATLER (February 2005) 'I avidly read her descriptions of her sexual comings -and-goings... But it is the peripheral details that make this account so readable,' -- Craig Brown MAIL ON SUNDAY (16.1.05) **** 'Belle writes with panache...[and] there are some sharp, funny moments.' -- India Knight SUNDAY TIMES (16.1.05) 'the voyeurism is too good to miss.' MIRROR (14.1.05) 'It's bright, breezy and full of musings on art and arses and, naturally, men.' GQ (February 2005) 'a lurid, witty, sad, moving and...honest version of her life as a call girl...The author is clearly well-educated, and peppers her writings with erudite literary allusions...Whoever Belle is, she is obviously witty and clever, but also touched by melancholy. An intriguing, often disturbing work.' -- Lucy Cavendish EVENING STANDARD (17.1.05) 'It's frank, funny and completely addictive...Sometimes shocking, often hilarious, this is a definite must read of an insight into the secret life of an extraordinary, ordinary woman. You won't be able to put it down.' BEAUTYANDTHEDIRT.COM 'She lists like Hornby. She talks dirty like Amis. She has the misanthropy of Larkin and examines the finer points of sexual technique as she is adjusting the torque on a beloved but temperamental old E-type...It's hard to believe that this clever and candid new voice has no more to say. Whoever the author is, she should give up the day job. Only then will we find out what the real Belle de Jour is made of.' -- Katy Guest INDEPENDENT (21.1.05) 'In between appointments, Belle slots in real dates and holidays, and treats us to excepts from her 'A-Z Of London Sex Work' - tips on how to chat to clients ('Lie your head off. Think of it as proving ground for a future political career'), where to buy your knickers and how to smuggle whips into hotels.' -- Hephizibah Anderson DAILY MAIL (21.1.05) 'nicely written, in breezy, journalistic style - Bridget Jones stops moaning and goes on the game, so to speak. Belle is quick-witted [and] funny.' -- Jane Shilling SUNDAY TELEGRAPH (23.1.05) '[a] must read book. A voyeuristic glimpse into the glamour and revelations of her life. A really gripping read.' B MAGAZINE (March 2005) 'don't miss Belle de Jour's The Intimate Adventures of a London Call Girl.' RED (March 2005) 'Belle's witty musings make this a very entertaining read.' BIG ISSUE (24-30 January) '...witty descriptions...' -- Steven Poole GUARDIAN (5.2.05) 'In the mysterious Belle de Jour's autobiography cunnillingus blends with cunning linguistics to satisy all tastes.' LADSMAG (Sport Newspapers) 'A talent for comedy means it's not really porn, and it's barely erotica - more like one long open-mic stand-up routine about a working girl's lige and the people she meets...a guaranteed hit.' FOCUS (May 2005)

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