Kate Atkinson’s new novel is no gloomy yarn. “Shrines of Gaiety” froths with all-night parties, corrupt policemen, sickly cocktails and beautiful clothes
Save time by listening to our audio articles as you multitaskMs Atkinson’s award-winning novels include the “Case Histories” crime series and a loose trilogy set in the early 20th century that began with “Life After Life”. Her stories often depict the dispensing of rough-and-ready justice and the avenging of lost girls and ill-treated young women.
Spirited off the street into mysterious cars, their corpses later pulled from the Thames at a spot known as Dead Man’s Hole, the victims are under-age “hostesses” in theatres or clubs, including Nellie’s main nightspot, the Amethyst. Some are runaways. Freda Murgatroyd, a teenager, leaves a sticky situation in her home city of York and persuades her better-heeled friend Florence to accompany her down to London.
Hot on their trail is Gwendolen Kelling, an embodiment of pluck and independence. Recruited by Frobisher to spy on the Coker operation, Gwendolen forms a bond with Nellie’s eldest son, Niven; he was a soldier on the Western Front, she a nurse. The first world war and its losses haunt the book, from Gwendolen’s dead brothers to Frobisher’s continental wife, a refugee whose past traumas shroud her origins and blight their marriage.
Yet this is no gloomy yarn. It froths with all-night parties, corrupt policemen, sickly cocktails, swanky cars, gossip columnists, gambling dens and beautiful clothes. Another of Nellie’s sons tries to capture the zeitgeist in a dreadful novel called “The Age of Glitter”, a nod to “Vile Bodies”, Evelyn Waugh’s satire of the era of the Bright Young Things. There are also references to popular songs of the day, T.S. Eliot’s “The Waste Land” and the “curse of Tutankhamun” .
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Queen Elizabeth II's rarest £800k diadem to be inherited by Princess KateWho will wear the Queen's Diamond Diadem? One of the rarest in the royal's jewellery collection, the George IV State Diadem could be inherited by Queen Consort Camilla and eventually, the Princess of Wales
Read more »
Kate Hudson shares exciting wedding update with fiancé Danny FujikawaGoldie Hawn's daughter Kate Hudson delivered an exciting update about her wedding plans with fiancé Danny Fujikawa following their engagement in 2021
Read more »
Sophie Wessex channels Princess Kate in striking A-line dressThe Countess of Wessex visited the Royal Victoria Chapel looked autumnal in an Emilia Wickstead dress and a Sandro jacket
Read more »
Gemma Owen signs up as ambassador for one of Kate Middleton's favourite brandsLove Island star Gemma Owen has had no trouble finding her feet following her appearance on the show, having signed a number of big bucks deals to promote brands since leaving the villa
Read more »
Real reason Princess Kate wears two different shoe sizesDid you know the Princess of Wales wears two different shoes? The royal has a very nifty fashion hack - she buys her shoes in two different sizes! Find out why.
Read more »
Princess Kate reveals children's unexpected reaction to royal engagement photosThe Princess of Wales' children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis had the most hilarious reaction to her royal engagement photos with Prince William.
Read more »