Harlots Summary
Harlots is a period drama set in the Georgian era (1714-1830) that focuses on the sex work industry in London. The first season focuses on the competition between the brothels run by Lydia Quigley, whose brothel appeals to high society and aristocrats and Margaret Wells, whose brothel gets more business from middle and working class but is slowly on the rise.
References:
https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/jul/08/harlots-season-three-lesley-manville-liv-tyler
Georgian Era sex trade
In the 18th Century, owning brothels was illegal from 1751 but prostitution itself was not an offence that carried a prison sentence until the 1820s. However, this didn’t stop the sex work industry but just drove it away from the main streets.
Many prostitutes were working class women or teenage girls, but some rose to become courtesans and even gained influence and power.
References:
https://www.madamegilflurt.com/2015/08/the-regency-sex-trade.html