Discover the hidden, untold history of the oldest profession, a fundamental aspect of human societies since the beginnings of civilization, which remains misunderstood, silenced, and distorted. Kate Lister tells the evolution and history of the oldest profession in an exciting, witty, and provocative way, through the eyes and testimonies of the workers themselves, in a global cultural panorama, from Babylon, Ancient Greece, and Rome to the hedonistic culture of imperial China and Japan, the glorious brothels of Belle Époque, and the brothels of soldiers in the two World Wars.

The comprehensive text is accompanied by a rich collection of unpublished photographs, artworks, and unusual objects, offering for the first time a complete view of the lives of the workers in the oldest profession, challenging stereotypes and inviting readers to reconsider what they thought they knew about the "oldest profession in the world".