Being famous in 1870's Paris is not easy. Ask Nelly McKay of Butte, Montana. She would rather not be.
DO’s and DON’Ts for an American stranded in Paris:
*Don’t allow policemen to buy you a mourning dress. They have no fashion sense.
*Don’t follow a handsome stranger. You’ll have to mend your broken heart.
*Do beware of ex-mistresses. They can turn valuable art objects into missiles.
*Don’t pretend you are respectable. You’ll be found out.
*Don’t think too highly of matrimony. Experience will prove you wrong.
*Don’t attract the attention of celebrities and high-ranking politicians. You’ll get into serious difficulties.
*Do keep a revolver close at hand. You’ll need it.
*Most of all, do avoid becoming famous if you can’t handle fame.
Fame and Infamy is a blend of comedy, mystery, romance and hard facts. Sarah Bernhardt and Victor Hugo are among the celebrities who share the scene with gritty characters emerging from the bohemian Latin Quarter. Paris, mopping up after the twin calamities of war and revolution, provides a background for this hearty clash of French and American cultures.