Prostitution is the oldest profession and appears in every corner of human civilization and every period of history. In spite of this it has been demonized and sex workers have been abused and mistreated. This is especially true in places, like the United States, where prostitution is illegal and thus without regulation and standards. Editor Ditmore offers readers a complete overview of prostitution in the United States. Presented chronologically, entries provide instances of prostitution and the manners in which those involved were treated by the authorities. Annotation ©2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)