Behind the Curtains: Inside SF’s Underworld and Rise of a Brothel Madame

The author of the novel, The Boy and the Brothel Madam, will present the fascinating history of Gold Rush San Francisco, the lust for riches, and the moral ambiguity of the notorious brothel madam Ah Toy. Join us for an evening of wine, literature, and conversation about this seductive and untamed moment at the birth of San Francisco. 

"An imaginative, multi-layered coming-of-age story that unfolds in the vibrant, chaotic world of Gold Rush San Francisco ..." - Gretchen Lemke-Santangelo, co-author of Competing Visions: A History of California

Biography

Noel C. Cilker is a San Francisco Bay Area native and a former American history teacher of sometimes-interested high school students. After receiving his master’s degree in History from Fordham University, the 10-year journey to this debut literary work began. Mr. Cilker has presented at the Chinese Historical Society of America and has published about Ah Toy in their peer-reviewed journal. His blog on Medium uncovers engaging perspectives in American history.

Hosted by poet Shaochen Huang: In the sunlight, he wanders the dense territories of technology, econometrics, sociology, and gender/queer study, only to surrender to the moonlight, where they float on a river of poetry, music, and film.