ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the process of (re)constructing the social interactions of prostitutes in order to reflect on their social experience of the port city. The relations between lodging-keepers or landlords of drinking houses and prostitutes must be understood in terms of financial benefits and losses. The story of the Chevalier de Rossy in Nantes offers a rare opportunity to witness the relations of a member of the nobility with prostitutes in Nantes. In Nantes, the descriptions of customers and visitors of prostitutes lacked details as much as the ones from Bristol: the neighbours complained about ‘rakes’ who gathered in the entrance of the alley or they mentioned some ‘young people’ who kept disturbing the peace. Gathering information about prostitutes’ customers is thus complicated by the ignorance of the neighbours or the unwillingness of officials to record the name of someone using the services of a prostitute.
