DownloadThe Portobello Bookshop Gift Guide 2024

Mrs Gulliver

Valerie Martin author

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Profile Books Ltd

Published:7th Mar '24

Should be back in stock very soon

This hardback is available in another edition too:

Mrs Gulliver cover

A short, lush novel about sex, second chances and taking control in a man's world

'Irresistible - a funny, sexy romp that's also smart, even wise' Kirkus starred review 'Pure elegance, subtlety and wit. A triumph of a novel' - Francesca Segal, author of Mother Ship It is 1954, and prostitution is legal in the tropical haven that is Verona Island. Here, among gangsters and corrupt lawmen, Lila Gulliver runs a brothel that promises her exclusive clientele privacy and discretion. When nineteen-year-old Carità, beautiful and blind since birth, comes to her door seeking employment, Mrs Gulliver sees a business opportunity and takes a chance. Carità is mesmerising, sharp and a mystery to her employer, always holding herself at a distance. One night, the son of a wealthy judge patronises Mrs Gulliver's establishment, immediately falling madly in love with Carità. This is Ian Drohan - young, idealistic and cushioned by wealth and family connections. Mrs Gulliver mistrusts him, and worries for Carità's future. Carità, on the other hand, is fearless, headstrong and a force of nature that Mrs Gulliver is always several steps behind. A dazzling drama filled with sex, wry wit and literary references, Mrs Gulliver follows two women who have nothing to lose in their fight for agency on an island too ready to dismiss them.

The title suggests a rollicking tale and a rollicking tale is what you get, full of twists and surprises and never a dull moment. Entertainingly wild -- Karen Joy Fowler, Man Booker longlisted author of Booth
I adore Valerie Martin, and Mrs Gulliver is no exception. Pure elegance, subtlety and wit. A triumph of a novel -- Francesca Segal, author of Mother Ship
Irresistible - a funny, sexy romp that's also smart, even wise * Kirkus starred review *
An elegant, deftly crafted tale * Sunday Post *
Brilliant * Daily Mal *
A quirky and enjoyable twist on an old story with plenty of plot and thematic oomph. Rich in unabashed raunchiness, it toys with feminist tropes and hands us a heroine who is superficially fragile, yet very much in command of her own destiny * Big Issue *
Captivating ... In Mrs. Gulliver, Valerie Martin offers us an idyll, perhaps even a comedy. All's well that ends well. We hope * Bookpage starred review *
Martin's surprisingly playful latest observes two strong-willed women as they make the best of their initially unfortunate lives ... it's a pleasure to get to know both of her intelligent and resourceful heroines * Booklist *
This is an excellent character-written novel. You get invested in their lives, and want to read along and see what happens to them. You will not want to put this one down * Red Carpet Crash *
Refreshing and completely different - I loved it as soon as I started reading. I love how Valerie Martin writes and was totally engrossed by the story of these strong unconventional women and the men they vanquish - so thought-provoking, so quirky, so well realised -- Sabine Durrant, author of Sun Damage
An unexpected and witty novel examining the eternal inequalities embedded in this particular trade -- Adele Parks MBE, author of Both of You
Lila is a beguiling narrator, offering often shrewd observations, and Carita is an appealingly canny protagonist * The Times *
An intriguing, well-written gem, it slips down as sweetly as a sonnet * Buzz Magazine *
Praise for Valerie Martin -- :
Martin's writing is a reward in itself, a wonderful precision-tool. She uses it to chisel at the human condition - and the effect is astonishing * Financial Times *
Valerie Martin is a fleet-footed writer; you never quite know where she'll go next * Observer *
Few have written so surprisingly, so convincingly as Valerie Martin about sexual obsession and the perverse twistings of the human heart -- Margaret Atwood
[Martin's] writing - so prized and clean limbed - is a marvel -- Toni Morrison
Valerie Martin is one of the best novelists we have -- Jane Smiley
The generosity of Martin's understanding opens every character to the full, astounding range of human possibility. Her revelations build mesmerizing excitement, a surprising kindness, and an unexpected sanity in the darkness * Washington Post Book World *
An enrapturing and ruthless storyteller, Valerie Martin possesses a predator's ability to mesmerize her prey . . . Martin's tales of betrayal, obsession, connivance, and failure put the firepower back into art * Chicago Tribune *
Martin is a vibrant force in American fiction * Times New Orleans *

ISBN: 9781800815391

Dimensions: 220mm x 140mm x 36mm

Weight: 420g

304 pages

Main