‘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 Carita, beautiful and blind since birth, comes to her door seeking employment, Mrs Gulliver sees a business opportunity and takes a chance. Carita 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 Carita. This is Ian Drohan – young, idealistic and cushioned by wealth and family connections. Mrs Gulliver mistrusts him, and worries for Carita’s future. Carita, 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.
Format: Paperback
Pages: 304
Imprint: Serpent’s Tail UK
Publication date: 20/02/2024
Mrs Gulliver
By Valerie Martin
Review by Alex A
This idyllic, clever re-telling of Romeo and Juliet-meets-The Tempest was just the right balance of romance, drama and gender dynamics.
Imagine if Juliet’s nurse was an elegant, astute madame of a brothel, situated on a tropical island in 1954. Lila Gulliver, our narrator, is a sharp-witted, emotionally intelligent businesswoman. The island is not exactly lawless, but the balance of power between the law, the church, and various crime family factions is tenuous.
Carita, a beautiful and blind 19-year-old, arrives on Lila’s doorstep and proves herself to be not only an asset to the business, but a force of nature to be reckoned with, whose fierce spirit Lila becomes fascinated by. When she falls in love with an aristocratic and arrogant young man, Lila’s sense of responsibility and complicity is tested.
Examining ideas around women’s agency, the ways women must adapt to survive in a patriarchal society, and above all, the ties that bind women to one another in solidarity, this was a charming, almost-period-piece novel, written with skill and read with pleasure. A perfect holiday/ weekend read!
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