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Valentine Grey

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Valentine Grey

By: Sandi Toksvig
Narrated by: Joanna Bending, Peter Kenny
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About this listen

From the author of Between the Stops and Toksvig's Almanac.

London, 1897. A young girl, Valentine Grey, arrives in England. She's been brought up in the remote and sunny climes of India and finds being forced into corsets and skirts in damp and cold country insufferable. The only bright spot: her exciting cousin Reggie. Reggie and his lover, Frank, seek out the adventure the clandestine bars and streets of London offer and are happy to include Valentine in their secret, showing her theatre, gardens - even teaching her how to ride a bicycle.

And then comes the Boer War, and Reggie's father volunteers him; the empire must be defended. But it won't be Reggie who dons the volunteer regiment's garb. Valentine takes her chance, puts on her cousin's uniform, leaves Reggie behind and heads off to war. And for a long while, it's glorious and liberating for both of the cousins, but war is not glorious, and in Victorian London, homosexuality is not liberating....

Longlisted for the Green Carnation Prize

©2022 Sandi Toksvig (P)2022 Hachette Audio UK Action & Adventure Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Fiction War & Military England War

Critic Reviews

"Teasing out untold stories of the battlefield...follows the footsteps of the likes of Sarah Waters and Pat Barker." (Independent)
All stars
Most relevant  
Historically educational while entertaining with two narrators helpfully reading the two main characters parts making it excellent. Lovingly sprinkled with women’s issues of the time that remind me of their limited freedom despite class.
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Historically Educational, Definitely Entertaining

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