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Content snapshot
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Violence
Barely any
Minimal physical violence; the dangers Nancy faces are social and economic
Language
Some
Period-appropriate adult language; some strong passages
Sexual Content
Very heavy
Explicit lesbian sexual content throughout; multiple extended scenes depicted in significant detail
Substance Use
Barely any
Some social drinking in Victorian contexts
Emotional Intensity
Some
Moderate psychological content around identity, class, and the cost of loving in a world that forbids it
What this book is about
Nancy Astley falls for Kitty Butler, a male impersonator performing in a Victorian music hall, and follows her into a world of theater, pleasure, and heartbreak. Sarah Waters's debut novel is a richly detailed Victorian lesbian love story that moves through multiple settings and social strata — theater, high society, political activism — with explicit sexual content throughout. An important and acclaimed work of queer historical fiction.
Notes for sensitive readers
Reader-flagged moments and themes that may affect your experience.
Explicit sexual content throughout
Important work of queer historical fiction; adults only due to sexual content
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