Tipping the Velvet cover art

Tipping the Velvet

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Tipping the Velvet

By: Sarah Waters
Narrated by: Juanita McMahon
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About this listen

'Piercing the shadows of the naked stage was a single shaft of rosy limelight, and in the centre of this was a girl: the most marvellous girl - I knew it at once! - that I had ever seen.'

A saucy, sensuous and multi-layered historical romance, Tipping the Velvet follows the glittering career of Nan King - oyster girl turned music-hall star turned rent boy turned East End 'tom'.

©1998 Sarah Waters (P)1998 W F Howes Ltd Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Historical Fiction LGBTQIA+ Creators Literary Fiction Literature & Fiction Women's Voices Thought-Provoking

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Critic reviews

"An unstoppable read, a sexy and picaresque romp through the lesbian and queer demi-monde of the roaring Nineties. Imagine Jeanette Winterson on a good day collaborating with Judith Butler to pen a Sapphic Moll Flanders. It's gorgeous" ( Independent on Sunday)
"She is an extremely confident writer, combining precise, sensuous descriptions with irony and wit. This is a lively, gutsy, highly readable debut" ( Observer)
All stars
Most relevant
Great story and audio book. narrator really brings it to life and last 3rd of book is particularly good.

brilliant narrator

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Keeps your attention throughout. Much preferred this to Affinity, which was the last Sarah Waters book that I read.

Definitely recommend.

Well written, excellent plot.

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This was a sexy joy of a book, beautifully written and read with gusto, in a perfect Kent/London accent. As Nancy discovers her sexuality we accompany her through relationships and variously dubious jobs as she grows into her self-knowledge and values. All against the background of lesbian life in Victorian London. A real treat.

Sexy Victorian pleasure

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Great story, really evocative of the period, with terrific narration.
A bit saucy (don't listen to it with your mum!)

Another joy

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Good narrator who commited to the emotions. Very sharp and interesting story. A delightful read.

My new favourite book

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