Xaviera Hollander is a former
prostitute and
madam, best known as the author of
The Happy Hooker: My Own Story (
1971,
ISBN 00 60 01 4164). The book was notable for its frankness at the time and is considered a landmark of
positive writing about sex. She has since written a number of other books and produced plays in
Amsterdam. For many years, she wrote an advice column for
Penthouse magazine.