Tipping the Velvet - Sarah Waters

'Tipping the Velvet', set in the 1880's during Victorian England, tells the coming of age story of 18 year old Nancy Astley, who is from a working class family that own an oyster restaurant. We join Nancy on her journey of self discovery, love and heartbreak as she embarks on a relationship with a woman who performs as a male impersonator. Nancy ends up leaving her family in Whitstable even though they disagree with her decision to join Kitty in London as her dresser. Life in London is not as perfect as Nancy thought it would be, especially when her relationship with Kitty breaks down and she ... more

I have bought every book that Sarah Waters ever published based on my experience of her exquisitely detailed book "Affinity", in which her written style was clear, and detail amazingly real. This book is more well known since it has been televised, although having just read it, I can only assume that the program could never actually be true to the book, unless it is on at an adult only time, since it's attention to detail is such that it proved a disturbing read. The book tells the story of Nan King, who works in her family Oyster restaurant in Whitstable at the turn of the 19th Century to ... more

*Synopsis* This is the story of the self discovery of Nan a 1890s lesbian Oyster girl. The book tells of the coming out, loves and the losses of Nan as she leaves her Home and family in Folkestone and travels off to London with a Star act male impersonator Kitty Butler. *Review* This book is naughty but nice. A fascinating adventure through 1890s London. When I first started to read the book and the details of Nans love life and pursuit there of I thought it was riotously funny and awkwardly written , but then as I progressed with the book I realised just how clever Sarah Walters was being ... more

I found this book to be a refreshing exploration of sexual identity and preference as well a truly entertaining read. There is a surprising honesty about the feelings Nancy experiences and I am sure that anyone who has had to come to terms with their sexuality in an unaccepting world will be able to relate to some of the characters and their experiences. Compared to other Sarah Waters' books such as Affinity, Tipping the Velvet is more openly a lesbian novel, with the sexuality of the characters and love between Nancy and the women she forms relationships with being the main focus throughout ... more

This was the first book I ever read by Sarah Waters, though I'd already seen the BBC adaptation. The story is about Nan Astley, an 'oyster girl' from whitby. During her teens, having been thoroughly disinterested in boys her age, she goes to the local theatre and sees Kitty Butler, a male impersonator. She takes a shine to her and goes to see her every night. Eventually Kitty notices her, and after a point invites Nan to go to London with her... The story goes on and they become lovers. If lesbian love affairs upset than this is not for you. It's not particularly x-rated, not really. In my ... more