WSJ reviews Sin in the Second City: Madams, Ministers, Playboys, and the Battle for America's Soul, a new book from Karen Abbott.

A young man walking up the stairs to a bordello encounters his father coming down the stairs. "Dad!" he says. "What're you doing here?"

"For two dollars," his father replies, "why bother your mother?"

From Publishers Weekly:

Freelance journalist Abbott's vibrant first book probes the titillating milieu of the posh, world-famous Everleigh Club brothel that operated from 1900 to 1911 on Chicago's Near South Side. ... While lesser whorehouses specialized in deflowering virgins, beatings and bondage, the Everleighs spoiled their whores with couture gowns, gourmet meals and extraordinary salaries. ... With colorful characters, this is an entertaining, well-researched slice of Windy City history.