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11/19/09 09:48 pm - Tipping the Velvet
Tipping the Velvet is a historical romance novel by Sarah Waters. The story is about a young woman named Nancy who falls in love with Kitty after she sees her perform on stage as a male impersenator aka "a masher."
The story is written in first person and is easy to read. London is depicted very well throughout the entire novel. I almost felt as if I was walking through the streets of London myself because of the vivid descriptions in the novel. Part 1,2 & 3 all flow together really well. There's not a single part in the story which drags the rest of the story which is unusual in first-time writers such as the then Sarah Waters. The story has a rich selection of characters all of which are very realistic. In particular Sarah Waters succeeded in creating sympathetic dislikable characters which is a rare element in most litriture.
The story explores various themes such as sexuality, gender, and politics. Sexuality is explored through a number of characters; there's Nan who starts the novel as a closetted lesbian but eventually becomes an open lesbian towards the end of the novel and of course there's Kitty who remains ashamed of her sexuality throughout the entire novel. There is also Nancy's sister Alice who is homophobic and of course there are some characters who are indifferent about homosexuality. Gender is explored primarilly through Nancy's character. Throughout Part 2 Nancy realizes that it is easier to walk through the streets as a male rather than as a woman. Nancy notes that she feels more comfortable in males clothing and that it is more practical for work. Politics is explored primarilly through the characters Ralph and Florence Banner who are devoted Socialists.
So in short if you like romance novels and novels which explore sexuality, gender and politics then I would deffinately reccomend this book to you.
The story is written in first person and is easy to read. London is depicted very well throughout the entire novel. I almost felt as if I was walking through the streets of London myself because of the vivid descriptions in the novel. Part 1,2 & 3 all flow together really well. There's not a single part in the story which drags the rest of the story which is unusual in first-time writers such as the then Sarah Waters. The story has a rich selection of characters all of which are very realistic. In particular Sarah Waters succeeded in creating sympathetic dislikable characters which is a rare element in most litriture.
The story explores various themes such as sexuality, gender, and politics. Sexuality is explored through a number of characters; there's Nan who starts the novel as a closetted lesbian but eventually becomes an open lesbian towards the end of the novel and of course there's Kitty who remains ashamed of her sexuality throughout the entire novel. There is also Nancy's sister Alice who is homophobic and of course there are some characters who are indifferent about homosexuality. Gender is explored primarilly through Nancy's character. Throughout Part 2 Nancy realizes that it is easier to walk through the streets as a male rather than as a woman. Nancy notes that she feels more comfortable in males clothing and that it is more practical for work. Politics is explored primarilly through the characters Ralph and Florence Banner who are devoted Socialists.
So in short if you like romance novels and novels which explore sexuality, gender and politics then I would deffinately reccomend this book to you.
