The heroine of Sarah Waters's audacious first novel knows her destiny, and seems content with it. Her place is in her father's seaside restaurant, shucking shellfish and stirring soup, singing all the while. "Although I didn't believe the story told to me by Mother--that they had found me as a baby in an oyster-shell, and a greedy customer had almost eaten me for lunch--for 18 years I never doubted my own oysterish sympathies, never looked beyond my father's kitchen for occupation, or for love." At night Nancy Astley often ventures to the nearby music hall, not that she has illusions of being more than an audience member. But the moment she spies a new male impersonator--still something of a curiosity in England circa 1888--her years of innocence come to an end and a life of transformations begins.

Tipping the Velvet, all 472 pages of it, is as saucy, as tantalising, and as touching as the narrator's first encounter with the seductive but shame-ridden Miss Kitty Butler. And at first even Nancy's family is thrilled with her gender-bending pal, all but her sister, best friend, and bedmate, Alice, "her eyes shining cold and dull, with starlight and suspicion". Not to worry. Soon Nancy and Kitty are off to London, their relationship close though (alas for our heroine) sisterly. We know that bliss will come, and it does, in an exceptionally charged moment. A lesser author would have been content to stop her story there, but Waters has much more in mind for her buttonholing heroine, and for us. In brief, her Everywoman with a sexual difference goes from success onstage to heartbreak to a stint as a male prostitute (necessity truly is the mother of invention) to keeping house for a brother and sister in the Labour movement. And did I mention her long stint as a plaything in the pleasure palace of a rich Sapphist extraordinaire? Diana Lethaby is as cruel as she is carnal, and even the well- concealed Cavendish Ladies' Club isn't outré enough for her. Kitting Nancy out in full, elegant drag, she dares the front desk to turn them away. "We are here," she mocks, "for the sake of the irregular."

Only after some seven years of hard twists and sensual turns does Nancy conclude that a life of sensation is not enough. Still, Tipping the Velvet is so entertaining that readers will wish her sentimental--and hedonistic--education had taken twice as long. --Kerry Fried, Amazon.com

Lip Bitingly good, 31 Aug 2008
My Sarah waters virginity was lost with "Fingersmith" (which i adored), so i naturally moved onto Tipping the Velvet. Unlike Fingersmith, there is only one character to focus on. Not that this was a bad thing however; in fact it made the book more intense. You could completly induldge in Nans thoughts, feelings, experiences and heart break. It was a deliciously smooth read which i found impossible to put down and shall re-read over an over. If you want to give your mind something to devour, then let it be Tipping the Velvet. You wont be dissapointed.

I feel I grew up with these two young women, 15 Jan 2008
By Mr. W. Dover "aspiring nobody" (Duesseldorf, Germany) - See all my reviews


This story just takes you right inside the lives of two young women living in Victorian England. These central characters are both experiencing so many new things in their lives, yet they gradually find that they have fundamentally different motives and desires. Either they are greedy for admiration and fame, or they are falling in love for the first time.

Like Sarah Waters' more recent novel "The Night Watch", this book is tragic, but with comic moments and as such I think it a masterwork. Classical in its overarching themes of "coming out of the Garden of Eden" (and no pun intended about Coming out), or coming to terms with the world, it sweeps you along with the journey of the characters. Everything the women experience affects the reader in a way that cannot be described. As a male reader, not aware of any particular preconceptions, I watched & loved the TV series, then had to read the book (albeit several years later though).

A element common to great works of fiction, surely, is that the reader shares the emotions of the central protagonists, for better or worse, along the course of the story. And that's exactly what I found whilst reading this tale. Regardless of sex, or sexual persuasion "Tipping the Velvet" pulls you in and doesn't let go. "Unputtdownable" is a term much overused these days. Whatever your opinion on that, I recommend that if you enjoy historical fiction or not; if you identify with idealistic yet reckless (to use one of Waters' favourite words) heroines or not; if you can't abide people who use others according to their own whims and fancies, or if you find that irrelevant; if you want to escape into another time and place as if you never knew any other life; in short, if you are fond of books that enthrall and entrance, then this is the one for you.

I cannot emphasise enough how deeply this book moved me. It makes you want to go and dance on the stage, like the women do. A wonderful, fulfilling and uplifting story. Ultimately life-enhancing.

A good read, 07 Oct 2007
It's reputation as a Victorian lesbian bodice ripper having preceded it, I wasn't quite sure what to expect from Tipping the Velvet. I needn't have worried - it is an extremely well written book, which drew me into the story and kept me intrigued from the very start.

The main topic of the story is lesbianism in the 1890s, and as such it is pretty graphic at many points. Therefore readers who are upset by homosexuality or descriptive sex scenes of any kind should avoid this book. However, it is very well written with a strong cast of interesting characters and plenty of twists and turns in the plot.

I did feel that the story lost some of its momentum in parts 2 and 3, but it was still enjoyable and didn't drag. The ending worked well, and I was left feeling pleased I'd given the book a chance. I would recommend this to any reader over 16, as long as they aren't worried by the sex scenes.

A Lesbo-Victorian Romp, 10 Sep 2007
...as jokingly described by Sarah Waters herself. But oh how much more than that it is. The story is that of Nan Astley, a young and naive oyster girl who falls in love with another woman, thus changing her life forever. We're taken into a great tale of showbusiness, the secret Victorian lesbian underworld, and so much more.
Sarah Waters' usual fantastic writing and imagination brings us yet another brilliant book.

Filled with sex, seduction, pain, heartache, violence, and all in the beautifully described Victorian era, this is a book you will not be able to put down until you have finished every word!

Fabulous, 27 Aug 2007
I watched the TV series when it was out originally - isn't that about 6 years or so ago now? - and then read this only recently. Commendations to the directors as they used the book so well. It didn't detract from my enjoyment as the book was perfectly well written and actually helped because I could hear/see the characters in my mind.

I think this is a well-known plot and doesn't need much further saying about it. The sex is, well, very explicit and very raunchy but wonderfull written. The learning Nancy goes through is heartbreaking and yet character building for her. Leaving the loving bosom of one family to finally end up in the arms of another. Beautiful!

Fabulous plot, excellent narrative and a true page turner.

Lip Bitingly good, 31 Aug 2008
My Sarah waters virginity was lost with "Fingersmith" (which i adored), so i naturally moved onto Tipping the Velvet. Unlike Fingersmith, there is only one character to focus on. Not that this was a bad thing however; in fact it made the book more intense. You could completly induldge in Nans thoughts, feelings, experiences and heart break. It was a deliciously smooth read which i found impossible to put down and shall re-read over an over. If you want to give your mind something to devour, then let it be Tipping the Velvet. You wont be dissapointed.

I feel I grew up with these two young women, 15 Jan 2008
By Mr. W. Dover "aspiring nobody" (Duesseldorf, Germany) - See all my reviews


This story just takes you right inside the lives of two young women living in Victorian England. These central characters are both experiencing so many new things in their lives, yet they gradually find that they have fundamentally different motives and desires. Either they are greedy for admiration and fame, or they are falling in love for the first time.

Like Sarah Waters' more recent novel "The Night Watch", this book is tragic, but with comic moments and as such I think it a masterwork. Classical in its overarching themes of "coming out of the Garden of Eden" (and no pun intended about Coming out), or coming to terms with the world, it sweeps you along with the journey of the characters. Everything the women experience affects the reader in a way that cannot be described. As a male reader, not aware of any particular preconceptions, I watched & loved the TV series, then had to read the book (albeit several years later though).

A element common to great works of fiction, surely, is that the reader shares the emotions of the central protagonists, for better or worse, along the course of the story. And that's exactly what I found whilst reading this tale. Regardless of sex, or sexual persuasion "Tipping the Velvet" pulls you in and doesn't let go. "Unputtdownable" is a term much overused these days. Whatever your opinion on that, I recommend that if you enjoy historical fiction or not; if you identify with idealistic yet reckless (to use one of Waters' favourite words) heroines or not; if you can't abide people who use others according to their own whims and fancies, or if you find that irrelevant; if you want to escape into another time and place as if you never knew any other life; in short, if you are fond of books that enthrall and entrance, then this is the one for you.

I cannot emphasise enough how deeply this book moved me. It makes you want to go and dance on the stage, like the women do. A wonderful, fulfilling and uplifting story. Ultimately life-enhancing.

A good read, 07 Oct 2007
It's reputation as a Victorian lesbian bodice ripper having preceded it, I wasn't quite sure what to expect from Tipping the Velvet. I needn't have worried - it is an extremely well written book, which drew me into the story and kept me intrigued from the very start.

The main topic of the story is lesbianism in the 1890s, and as such it is pretty graphic at many points. Therefore readers who are upset by homosexuality or descriptive sex scenes of any kind should avoid this book. However, it is very well written with a strong cast of interesting characters and plenty of twists and turns in the plot.

I did feel that the story lost some of its momentum in parts 2 and 3, but it was still enjoyable and didn't drag. The ending worked well, and I was left feeling pleased I'd given the book a chance. I would recommend this to any reader over 16, as long as they aren't worried by the sex scenes.

A Lesbo-Victorian Romp, 10 Sep 2007
...as jokingly described by Sarah Waters herself. But oh how much more than that it is. The story is that of Nan Astley, a young and naive oyster girl who falls in love with another woman, thus changing her life forever. We're taken into a great tale of showbusiness, the secret Victorian lesbian underworld, and so much more.
Sarah Waters' usual fantastic writing and imagination brings us yet another brilliant book.

Filled with sex, seduction, pain, heartache, violence, and all in the beautifully described Victorian era, this is a book you will not be able to put down until you have finished every word!

Fabulous, 27 Aug 2007
I watched the TV series when it was out originally - isn't that about 6 years or so ago now? - and then read this only recently. Commendations to the directors as they used the book so well. It didn't detract from my enjoyment as the book was perfectly well written and actually helped because I could hear/see the characters in my mind.

I think this is a well-known plot and doesn't need much further saying about it. The sex is, well, very explicit and very raunchy but wonderfull written. The learning Nancy goes through is heartbreaking and yet character building for her. Leaving the loving bosom of one family to finally end up in the arms of another. Beautiful!

Fabulous plot, excellent narrative and a true page turner.

This book is HOT!, 04 Apr 2008
This collection of short stories is an absolute scorching read. I was unable to stop reading it and, in the end, I had to ration myself to one or two stories a night.

The subjects cover the whole range of lesbian sexual expression and there is going to be something for everyone inside its pages. It is rude, raunchy, seductive and just plain sexy.

I was aroused by the stories pretty much all the time and my girlfriend kept getting woken up regularly when I was reading it in bed.

Buy it, it will really give you ideas.

in one word WET!, 14 Jan 2006
wow this makes a good night time read and a good book to share with your girlfriend there is a fanasy for everyone and also some new ones. Its not for the faint harted this book is rude, rude, rude

Up All Night - Kitten - Stephanie Taylor - WoW!!!!, 05 May 2005
What can I say apart from WOW!!!

This collection of short stories leads the reader on an exhilarating journey through the most intimate desires, emotions and sexual experimentations of contemporary lesbian women.

One story in particular made this book well worth reading...

Kitten by new author Stephanie Taylor fuses pure energy and vibrancy in its narrative with unadulterated erotic drama that left me tingling all over. I am on tenterhooks waiting for the next publication by this exciting author which promises at the very least to be thrilling!!!!

Thoughts of a straight reader, 02 Feb 2004
So, it wasn't what I wanted but heh, what do I know? Simply put if you are after fantasy material written for the selfish straight male - do not buy this book - go to the newsagents and buy an appropriate glossy magazine. This book is not pornography it is beautifully crafted and emotional literature that I enjoyed.

I may even have learned something:about modern sapphism - yes, women in general - perhaps, how to relate sex to emotion - absolutly.

My only concern is that like the character who watches her partner on the sly (read it) I am a guilty voyeur intruding on a world to which I wasn'ted invited and do not belong. Do I feel guilty - not really. I feel enlightened.

Lip Bitingly good, 31 Aug 2008
My Sarah waters virginity was lost with "Fingersmith" (which i adored), so i naturally moved onto Tipping the Velvet. Unlike Fingersmith, there is only one character to focus on. Not that this was a bad thing however; in fact it made the book more intense. You could completly induldge in Nans thoughts, feelings, experiences and heart break. It was a deliciously smooth read which i found impossible to put down and shall re-read over an over. If you want to give your mind something to devour, then let it be Tipping the Velvet. You wont be dissapointed.

I feel I grew up with these two young women, 15 Jan 2008
By Mr. W. Dover "aspiring nobody" (Duesseldorf, Germany) - See all my reviews


This story just takes you right inside the lives of two young women living in Victorian England. These central characters are both experiencing so many new things in their lives, yet they gradually find that they have fundamentally different motives and desires. Either they are greedy for admiration and fame, or they are falling in love for the first time.

Like Sarah Waters' more recent novel "The Night Watch", this book is tragic, but with comic moments and as such I think it a masterwork. Classical in its overarching themes of "coming out of the Garden of Eden" (and no pun intended about Coming out), or coming to terms with the world, it sweeps you along with the journey of the characters. Everything the women experience affects the reader in a way that cannot be described. As a male reader, not aware of any particular preconceptions, I watched & loved the TV series, then had to read the book (albeit several years later though).

A element common to great works of fiction, surely, is that the reader shares the emotions of the central protagonists, for better or worse, along the course of the story. And that's exactly what I found whilst reading this tale. Regardless of sex, or sexual persuasion "Tipping the Velvet" pulls you in and doesn't let go. "Unputtdownable" is a term much overused these days. Whatever your opinion on that, I recommend that if you enjoy historical fiction or not; if you identify with idealistic yet reckless (to use one of Waters' favourite words) heroines or not; if you can't abide people who use others according to their own whims and fancies, or if you find that irrelevant; if you want to escape into another time and place as if you never knew any other life; in short, if you are fond of books that enthrall and entrance, then this is the one for you.

I cannot emphasise enough how deeply this book moved me. It makes you want to go and dance on the stage, like the women do. A wonderful, fulfilling and uplifting story. Ultimately life-enhancing.

A good read, 07 Oct 2007
It's reputation as a Victorian lesbian bodice ripper having preceded it, I wasn't quite sure what to expect from Tipping the Velvet. I needn't have worried - it is an extremely well written book, which drew me into the story and kept me intrigued from the very start.

The main topic of the story is lesbianism in the 1890s, and as such it is pretty graphic at many points. Therefore readers who are upset by homosexuality or descriptive sex scenes of any kind should avoid this book. However, it is very well written with a strong cast of interesting characters and plenty of twists and turns in the plot.

I did feel that the story lost some of its momentum in parts 2 and 3, but it was still enjoyable and didn't drag. The ending worked well, and I was left feeling pleased I'd given the book a chance. I would recommend this to any reader over 16, as long as they aren't worried by the sex scenes.

A Lesbo-Victorian Romp, 10 Sep 2007
...as jokingly described by Sarah Waters herself. But oh how much more than that it is. The story is that of Nan Astley, a young and naive oyster girl who falls in love with another woman, thus changing her life forever. We're taken into a great tale of showbusiness, the secret Victorian lesbian underworld, and so much more.
Sarah Waters' usual fantastic writing and imagination brings us yet another brilliant book.

Filled with sex, seduction, pain, heartache, violence, and all in the beautifully described Victorian era, this is a book you will not be able to put down until you have finished every word!

Fabulous, 27 Aug 2007
I watched the TV series when it was out originally - isn't that about 6 years or so ago now? - and then read this only recently. Commendations to the directors as they used the book so well. It didn't detract from my enjoyment as the book was perfectly well written and actually helped because I could hear/see the characters in my mind.

I think this is a well-known plot and doesn't need much further saying about it. The sex is, well, very explicit and very raunchy but wonderfull written. The learning Nancy goes through is heartbreaking and yet character building for her. Leaving the loving bosom of one family to finally end up in the arms of another. Beautiful!

Fabulous plot, excellent narrative and a true page turner.

This book is HOT!, 04 Apr 2008
This collection of short stories is an absolute scorching read. I was unable to stop reading it and, in the end, I had to ration myself to one or two stories a night.

The subjects cover the whole range of lesbian sexual expression and there is going to be something for everyone inside its pages. It is rude, raunchy, seductive and just plain sexy.

I was aroused by the stories pretty much all the time and my girlfriend kept getting woken up regularly when I was reading it in bed.

Buy it, it will really give you ideas.

in one word WET!, 14 Jan 2006
wow this makes a good night time read and a good book to share with your girlfriend there is a fanasy for everyone and also some new ones. Its not for the faint harted this book is rude, rude, rude

Up All Night - Kitten - Stephanie Taylor - WoW!!!!, 05 May 2005
What can I say apart from WOW!!!

This collection of short stories leads the reader on an exhilarating journey through the most intimate desires, emotions and sexual experimentations of contemporary lesbian women.

One story in particular made this book well worth reading...

Kitten by new author Stephanie Taylor fuses pure energy and vibrancy in its narrative with unadulterated erotic drama that left me tingling all over. I am on tenterhooks waiting for the next publication by this exciting author which promises at the very least to be thrilling!!!!

Thoughts of a straight reader, 02 Feb 2004
So, it wasn't what I wanted but heh, what do I know? Simply put if you are after fantasy material written for the selfish straight male - do not buy this book - go to the newsagents and buy an appropriate glossy magazine. This book is not pornography it is beautifully crafted and emotional literature that I enjoyed.

I may even have learned something:about modern sapphism - yes, women in general - perhaps, how to relate sex to emotion - absolutly.

My only concern is that like the character who watches her partner on the sly (read it) I am a guilty voyeur intruding on a world to which I wasn'ted invited and do not belong. Do I feel guilty - not really. I feel enlightened.

A right ripping yarn!, 06 Sep 2008
All the intrigue of Agatha Christie, all the fun of a game of Cluedo, all the innuendo of a Carry On film with plenty of homoerotic scenes thrown in for good measure. Historical and humerous, this is one to enjoy and one to recommend to like-minded friends.

The Holmes/Watson type dynamic of Mitch and Boy Morgan is especially delicious, which I'm sure the butler would endorse! Lots of dastardly villains in the shape of the local constabulary and the manipulative Leonard Eagle. Enjoy!

No, not the Isis!!!, 07 Jun 2008

Yes, it's entertaining and yes it's arousing and thus fulfils its own brief. But ... oh dear Mr Lear, on page TWO you identify the river that flows through Cambridge as the Isis. It isn't. The Isis flows through Oxford. The "old" name of Cambridge's river Cam is the Granta (like the literary magazine). In a confection such as "Back Passage", it's these details (easily checked on Wikipedia, for God's sake), that make the difference between a genre-subverting delight and a ho-hum "well ... it's sort of OK and ... sort of fun ..."

Louis LaSalle's cover photograph is, as usual with Mr LaSalle, drop-dead sexy.








The Back Passage , 15 May 2008
A Funny, sexy "Who dunnit" book, with quite graphic sex in every chapter.
The main character Mitch takes every opportunity (and there are many) to enjoy his sexuality. James Lear is on to a winner with this character and I hope he takes him further into his adventures as a detective. I can't wait to read more.

Giggle fest almost the whole way through!, 03 Oct 2007
With the exception of a brief interlude of (appropriate to context) police brutality, I laughed the whole way through this book! I read it when working nightshift and my co-workers thought I was mad. Written in a great 1920's style it is very explicit and the sex scenes are very intense (and unrelenting). However, the humour in evident on every page. If you want a nice whodunnit buy agatha christie - want a whodunnit with wit and bite? Try this! Ok, as a straight woman I am maybe not the intended audience but as random purchases go, I am so glad I bought it. Hilarious.

5 stars for the cover!, 08 Aug 2007
Is there a label for this kind of gay lit that has proliferated in recent years? These romps are usually decently written and often quite diverting but their raison d'etre is the endless stream of graphically described sexual encounters in which just about every young guy the handsome hunky hero encounters is ready and willing. If you removed the continuous stream of sex fantasies nobody would be bothered to read these books and presumably the authors wouldn't be bothered to write them. This particular opus in totally anachronistic in the sense that the gay ethos of our modern age is transplanted to a 1920s setting. But it's all fantasy so what does it matter?
Now, are you looking for a dazzling example of a classic whodunnit from the Golden Age of the 20s and 30s? In which case do an Amazon search for the Poisoned Chocolates Case by Anthony Berkeley.
Or would you prefer a porny read that's pretty good fun, capably written with a so-so whodunnit stitched on? I thought so. In which case the Back Passage will do nicely.

Lip Bitingly good, 31 Aug 2008
My Sarah waters virginity was lost with "Fingersmith" (which i adored), so i naturally moved onto Tipping the Velvet. Unlike Fingersmith, there is only one character to focus on. Not that this was a bad thing however; in fact it made the book more intense. You could completly induldge in Nans thoughts, feelings, experiences and heart break. It was a deliciously smooth read which i found impossible to put down and shall re-read over an over. If you want to give your mind something to devour, then let it be Tipping the Velvet. You wont be dissapointed.

I feel I grew up with these two young women, 15 Jan 2008
By Mr. W. Dover "aspiring nobody" (Duesseldorf, Germany) - See all my reviews


This story just takes you right inside the lives of two young women living in Victorian England. These central characters are both experiencing so many new things in their lives, yet they gradually find that they have fundamentally different motives and desires. Either they are greedy for admiration and fame, or they are falling in love for the first time.

Like Sarah Waters' more recent novel "The Night Watch", this book is tragic, but with comic moments and as such I think it a masterwork. Classical in its overarching themes of "coming out of the Garden of Eden" (and no pun intended about Coming out), or coming to terms with the world, it sweeps you along with the journey of the characters. Everything the women experience affects the reader in a way that cannot be described. As a male reader, not aware of any particular preconceptions, I watched & loved the TV series, then had to read the book (albeit several years later though).

A element common to great works of fiction, surely, is that the reader shares the emotions of the central protagonists, for better or worse, along the course of the story. And that's exactly what I found whilst reading this tale. Regardless of sex, or sexual persuasion "Tipping the Velvet" pulls you in and doesn't let go. "Unputtdownable" is a term much overused these days. Whatever your opinion on that, I recommend that if you enjoy historical fiction or not; if you identify with idealistic yet reckless (to use one of Waters' favourite words) heroines or not; if you can't abide people who use others according to their own whims and fancies, or if you find that irrelevant; if you want to escape into another time and place as if you never knew any other life; in short, if you are fond of books that enthrall and entrance, then this is the one for you.

I cannot emphasise enough how deeply this book moved me. It makes you want to go and dance on the stage, like the women do. A wonderful, fulfilling and uplifting story. Ultimately life-enhancing.

A good read, 07 Oct 2007
It's reputation as a Victorian lesbian bodice ripper having preceded it, I wasn't quite sure what to expect from Tipping the Velvet. I needn't have worried - it is an extremely well written book, which drew me into the story and kept me intrigued from the very start.

The main topic of the story is lesbianism in the 1890s, and as such it is pretty graphic at many points. Therefore readers who are upset by homosexuality or descriptive sex scenes of any kind should avoid this book. However, it is very well written with a strong cast of interesting characters and plenty of twists and turns in the plot.

I did feel that the story lost some of its momentum in parts 2 and 3, but it was still enjoyable and didn't drag. The ending worked well, and I was left feeling pleased I'd given the book a chance. I would recommend this to any reader over 16, as long as they aren't worried by the sex scenes.

A Lesbo-Victorian Romp, 10 Sep 2007
...as jokingly described by Sarah Waters herself. But oh how much more than that it is. The story is that of Nan Astley, a young and naive oyster girl who falls in love with another woman, thus changing her life forever. We're taken into a great tale of showbusiness, the secret Victorian lesbian underworld, and so much more.
Sarah Waters' usual fantastic writing and imagination brings us yet another brilliant book.

Filled with sex, seduction, pain, heartache, violence, and all in the beautifully described Victorian era, this is a book you will not be able to put down until you have finished every word!

Fabulous, 27 Aug 2007
I watched the TV series when it was out originally - isn't that about 6 years or so ago now? - and then read this only recently. Commendations to the directors as they used the book so well. It didn't detract from my enjoyment as the book was perfectly well written and actually helped because I could hear/see the characters in my mind.

I think this is a well-known plot and doesn't need much further saying about it. The sex is, well, very explicit and very raunchy but wonderfull written. The learning Nancy goes through is heartbreaking and yet character building for her. Leaving the loving bosom of one family to finally end up in the arms of another. Beautiful!

Fabulous plot, excellent narrative and a true page turner.

This book is HOT!, 04 Apr 2008
This collection of short stories is an absolute scorching read. I was unable to stop reading it and, in the end, I had to ration myself to one or two stories a night.

The subjects cover the whole range of lesbian sexual expression and there is going to be something for everyone inside its pages. It is rude, raunchy, seductive and just plain sexy.

I was aroused by the stories pretty much all the time and my girlfriend kept getting woken up regularly when I was reading it in bed.

Buy it, it will really give you ideas.

in one word WET!, 14 Jan 2006
wow this makes a good night time read and a good book to share with your girlfriend there is a fanasy for everyone and also some new ones. Its not for the faint harted this book is rude, rude, rude

Up All Night - Kitten - Stephanie Taylor - WoW!!!!, 05 May 2005
What can I say apart from WOW!!!

This collection of short stories leads the reader on an exhilarating journey through the most intimate desires, emotions and sexual experimentations of contemporary lesbian women.

One story in particular made this book well worth reading...

Kitten by new author Stephanie Taylor fuses pure energy and vibrancy in its narrative with unadulterated erotic drama that left me tingling all over. I am on tenterhooks waiting for the next publication by this exciting author which promises at the very least to be thrilling!!!!

Thoughts of a straight reader, 02 Feb 2004
So, it wasn't what I wanted but heh, what do I know? Simply put if you are after fantasy material written for the selfish straight male - do not buy this book - go to the newsagents and buy an appropriate glossy magazine. This book is not pornography it is beautifully crafted and emotional literature that I enjoyed.

I may even have learned something:about modern sapphism - yes, women in general - perhaps, how to relate sex to emotion - absolutly.

My only concern is that like the character who watches her partner on the sly (read it) I am a guilty voyeur intruding on a world to which I wasn'ted invited and do not belong. Do I feel guilty - not really. I feel enlightened.

A right ripping yarn!, 06 Sep 2008
All the intrigue of Agatha Christie, all the fun of a game of Cluedo, all the innuendo of a Carry On film with plenty of homoerotic scenes thrown in for good measure. Historical and humerous, this is one to enjoy and one to recommend to like-minded friends.

The Holmes/Watson type dynamic of Mitch and Boy Morgan is especially delicious, which I'm sure the butler would endorse! Lots of dastardly villains in the shape of the local constabulary and the manipulative Leonard Eagle. Enjoy!

No, not the Isis!!!, 07 Jun 2008

Yes, it's entertaining and yes it's arousing and thus fulfils its own brief. But ... oh dear Mr Lear, on page TWO you identify the river that flows through Cambridge as the Isis. It isn't. The Isis flows through Oxford. The "old" name of Cambridge's river Cam is the Granta (like the literary magazine). In a confection such as "Back Passage", it's these details (easily checked on Wikipedia, for God's sake), that make the difference between a genre-subverting delight and a ho-hum "well ... it's sort of OK and ... sort of fun ..."

Louis LaSalle's cover photograph is, as usual with Mr LaSalle, drop-dead sexy.








The Back Passage , 15 May 2008
A Funny, sexy "Who dunnit" book, with quite graphic sex in every chapter.
The main character Mitch takes every opportunity (and there are many) to enjoy his sexuality. James Lear is on to a winner with this character and I hope he takes him further into his adventures as a detective. I can't wait to read more.

Giggle fest almost the whole way through!, 03 Oct 2007
With the exception of a brief interlude of (appropriate to context) police brutality, I laughed the whole way through this book! I read it when working nightshift and my co-workers thought I was mad. Written in a great 1920's style it is very explicit and the sex scenes are very intense (and unrelenting). However, the humour in evident on every page. If you want a nice whodunnit buy agatha christie - want a whodunnit with wit and bite? Try this! Ok, as a straight woman I am maybe not the intended audience but as random purchases go, I am so glad I bought it. Hilarious.

5 stars for the cover!, 08 Aug 2007
Is there a label for this kind of gay lit that has proliferated in recent years? These romps are usually decently written and often quite diverting but their raison d'etre is the endless stream of graphically described sexual encounters in which just about every young guy the handsome hunky hero encounters is ready and willing. If you removed the continuous stream of sex fantasies nobody would be bothered to read these books and presumably the authors wouldn't be bothered to write them. This particular opus in totally anachronistic in the sense that the gay ethos of our modern age is transplanted to a 1920s setting. But it's all fantasy so what does it matter?
Now, are you looking for a dazzling example of a classic whodunnit from the Golden Age of the 20s and 30s? In which case do an Amazon search for the Poisoned Chocolates Case by Anthony Berkeley.
Or would you prefer a porny read that's pretty good fun, capably written with a so-so whodunnit stitched on? I thought so. In which case the Back Passage will do nicely.

The love that dare not speak its name..., 30 Jun 2006
Radclyffe Hall was an amazingly perceptive person who was born not only in the wrong body but the wrong era... This classic book is an absolute must for anyone confused about their sexuality. There is a reason why it is referred to as "the lesbian bible"...!! Without a doubt the inspiration for this book was Radclyffe Hall's own real life experiences interspersed with her own fantasies-on this occasion reality/fantasy work..!! NOT recommended in real-life..!!

The Well Of Loneliness, 12 Apr 2005
I love this book, it was given to me by my cousin, and I have to be honest, was not particularly enthusiastic about the prospect of reading it to begin with, but as soon as I got into it, I couldn't put it down.

However, I do not agree with the claim on the front of the cover describing it as "The Bible of Lesbianism" because in all honesty it is not. Radclyffe Hall may have herself been a lesbian, but in some ways this novel skirts over the issue and almost gives the impression that homosexuality is a negative thing. Obviously at the time that the novel is set in, she has to conform to certain social regulations, but referring to lesbians as "inverts" is not a particularly positive description in my eyes. Also trying to disguise the gender of the protagonist to a certain degree by calling her "Stephen" seems to also be an attempt to distract the reader from the issue of homosexuality that is clearly being conveyed.

However, this is beautifully written, it is a haunting piece of literature, that once read will never be forgotten. Hall may have been ahead of her time when the novel was first released, but she is now remembered as a classic and wonderful novelist whose words echo deeply within the heart of her readers.

This will reduce you to tears, I have never been so emotionally drained after finishing a book, but I truthfully believe that regardless of your view on sexuality, this is a love story, showing that love will force you to do anything to protect the one you truely care about and adore.

Exceptional.

Interesting book but not a great one, 03 Aug 2004
This is an interesting book, but suffers from the hype surrounding it. The early chapters describing Stephen's childhood and her relationship with her father (and to a lesser extent her mother) are very moving and definitely the best part of this novel. Once we come to Stephen's adult life, I felt it became rather dull and needed a lot more editing.

However, an interesting read.

Not worth the scandal it caused, 03 Jun 2002
If you're studying lesbian literature, obscenity trials or queer history in general, this book has unfortunately become foundation stuff and might be worth trawling through. If you're a young dyke just starting to read queer writing, it'll just make you feel hopeless and there are far better writers around. Radclyffe Hall may have been a pioneer and a martyr, and she does at least get marks for courage considering the atmosphere of the time, but as a writer she was mediocre (and apparently as a person she was a nasty piece of work).

Admittedly, the book is very much a product of its time. Sexual orientation was little understood, gender dysphoria even less so, and Hall appears to have got muddled up between the two. There is a mild stab at scientific explanation (Stephen's parents long for a boy, give her a boy's name, treat her as a boy to a certain extent - and surprise surprise, she grows up to like girls and dress as a man), and a very clear line drawn between "inverts" and "normals" that will make anyone grit their teeth long before they come to the depressing way in which Stephen "heroically" solves her final dilemma. The depiction of the relatively "normal" women Stephen loves as properly girly creatures, who are swayed by the perils of Sapphic passion but are still Real Women underneath, contains some pretty unpleasant stereotypes about bisexuals and "femme" women, and the characterisation throughout neither arouses sympathy in the reader nor particularly convinces.

Despite the obscenity trial, there is nothing scandalous in this book beyond the idea that a woman could love women: the dirtiest it gets is the all-concealing line, "...And that night they were not divided." (Sorry if that's a spoiler, but as a friend of mine said, "You mean I've read hundreds of pages about her miserable childhood for *that*?")

If you want lesbian sex, there are plenty of writers offering that sort of thing these days, and some of them even write about it well (Emma Donoghue, for instance, who is, incidentally, a vivid, moving and very funny writer). If you're after lesbian literature of that period, go to Virginia Woolf and co. (there are also some excellent anthologies, such as the "Penguin Book of Lesbian Short Stories" and "Chloe Plus Olivia", that take a literary-historical perspective). If you simply want a well-written book about love between women, again there is far better on offer: the previous two writers and also the likes of Jane Rule and Alice Walker. And if you're interested in transsexuality and the boundaries between genders (not to mention the people who fall in the middle), I can recommend Anna Livia's "Bruised Fruit" and Rose Tremain's "Sacred Country". Spare yourself this.

A fantastic piece of literature!, 13 Dec 2001
'The Well of Lonliness' is an absolutely sensational book. The way in which Hall explores the feelings and emotions of Stephen are stunningly effective. I couldn't put this book down and the empathy which she makes you feel with the characters is incredible. This is the first book which reduced me to tears- I defy anyone not to be moved by it. I advise anyone and everyone to read this book as it truely is a fantastic piece of literature.

Lip Bitingly good, 31 Aug 2008
My Sarah waters virginity was lost with "Fingersmith" (which i adored), so i naturally moved onto Tipping the Velvet. Unlike Fingersmith, there is only one character to focus on. Not that this was a bad thing however; in fact it made the book more intense. You could completly induldge in Nans thoughts, feelings, experiences and heart break. It was a deliciously smooth read which i found impossible to put down and shall re-read over an over. If you want to give your mind something to devour, then let it be Tipping the Velvet. You wont be dissapointed.

I feel I grew up with these two young women, 15 Jan 2008
By Mr. W. Dover "aspiring nobody" (Duesseldorf, Germany) - See all my reviews


This story just takes you right inside the lives of two young women living in Victorian England. These central characters are both experiencing so many new things in their lives, yet they gradually find that they have fundamentally different motives and desires. Either they are greedy for admiration and fame, or they are falling in love for the first time.

Like Sarah Waters' more recent novel "The Night Watch", this book is tragic, but with comic moments and as such I think it a masterwork. Classical in its overarching themes of "coming out of the Garden of Eden" (and no pun intended about Coming out), or coming to terms with the world, it sweeps you along with the journey of the characters. Everything the women experience affects the reader in a way that cannot be described. As a male reader, not aware of any particular preconceptions, I watched & loved the TV series, then had to read the book (albeit several years later though).

A element common to great works of fiction, surely, is that the reader shares the emotions of the central protagonists, for better or worse, along the course of the story. And that's exactly what I found whilst reading this tale. Regardless of sex, or sexual persuasion "Tipping the Velvet" pulls you in and doesn't let go. "Unputtdownable" is a term much overused these days. Whatever your opinion on that, I recommend that if you enjoy historical fiction or not; if you identify with idealistic yet reckless (to use one of Waters' favourite words) heroines or not; if you can't abide people who use others according to their own whims and fancies, or if you find that irrelevant; if you want to escape into another time and place as if you never knew any other life; in short, if you are fond of books that enthrall and entrance, then this is the one for you.

I cannot emphasise enough how deeply this book moved me. It makes you want to go and dance on the stage, like the women do. A wonderful, fulfilling and uplifting story. Ultimately life-enhancing.

A good read, 07 Oct 2007
It's reputation as a Victorian lesbian bodice ripper having preceded it, I wasn't quite sure what to expect from Tipping the Velvet. I needn't have worried - it is an extremely well written book, which drew me into the story and kept me intrigued from the very start.

The main topic of the story is lesbianism in the 1890s, and as such it is pretty graphic at many points. Therefore readers who are upset by homosexuality or descriptive sex scenes of any kind should avoid this book. However, it is very well written with a strong cast of interesting characters and plenty of twists and turns in the plot.

I did feel that the story lost some of its momentum in parts 2 and 3, but it was still enjoyable and didn't drag. The ending worked well, and I was left feeling pleased I'd given the book a chance. I would recommend this to any reader over 16, as long as they aren't worried by the sex scenes.

A Lesbo-Victorian Romp, 10 Sep 2007
...as jokingly described by Sarah Waters herself. But oh how much more than that it is. The story is that of Nan Astley, a young and naive oyster girl who falls in love with another woman, thus changing her life forever. We're taken into a great tale of showbusiness, the secret Victorian lesbian underworld, and so much more.
Sarah Waters' usual fantastic writing and imagination brings us yet another brilliant book.

Filled with sex, seduction, pain, heartache, violence, and all in the beautifully described Victorian era, this is a book you will not be able to put down until you have finished every word!

Fabulous, 27 Aug 2007
I watched the TV series when it was out originally - isn't that about 6 years or so ago now? - and then read this only recently. Commendations to the directors as they used the book so well. It didn't detract from my enjoyment as the book was perfectly well written and actually helped because I could hear/see the characters in my mind.

I think this is a well-known plot and doesn't need much further saying about it. The sex is, well, very explicit and very raunchy but wonderfull written. The learning Nancy goes through is heartbreaking and yet character building for her. Leaving the loving bosom of one family to finally end up in the arms of another. Beautiful!

Fabulous plot, excellent narrative and a true page turner.

This book is HOT!, 04 Apr 2008
This collection of short stories is an absolute scorching read. I was unable to stop reading it and, in the end, I had to ration myself to one or two stories a night.

The subjects cover the whole range of lesbian sexual expression and there is going to be something for everyone inside its pages. It is rude, raunchy, seductive and just plain sexy.

I was aroused by the stories pretty much all the time and my girlfriend kept getting woken up regularly when I was reading it in bed.

Buy it, it will really give you ideas.

in one word WET!, 14 Jan 2006
wow this makes a good night time read and a good book to share with your girlfriend there is a fanasy for everyone and also some new ones. Its not for the faint harted this book is rude, rude, rude

Up All Night - Kitten - Stephanie Taylor - WoW!!!!, 05 May 2005
What can I say apart from WOW!!!

This collection of short stories leads the reader on an exhilarating journey through the most intimate desires, emotions and sexual experimentations of contemporary lesbian women.

One story in particular made this book well worth reading...

Kitten by new author Stephanie Taylor fuses pure energy and vibrancy in its narrative with unadulterated erotic drama that left me tingling all over. I am on tenterhooks waiting for the next publication by this exciting author which promises at the very least to be thrilling!!!!

Thoughts of a straight reader, 02 Feb 2004
So, it wasn't what I wanted but heh, what do I know? Simply put if you are after fantasy material written for the selfish straight male - do not buy this book - go to the newsagents and buy an appropriate glossy magazine. This book is not pornography it is beautifully crafted and emotional literature that I enjoyed.

I may even have learned something:about modern sapphism - yes, women in general - perhaps, how to relate sex to emotion - absolutly.

My only concern is that like the character who watches her partner on the sly (read it) I am a guilty voyeur intruding on a world to which I wasn'ted invited and do not belong. Do I feel guilty - not really. I feel enlightened.

A right ripping yarn!, 06 Sep 2008
All the intrigue of Agatha Christie, all the fun of a game of Cluedo, all the innuendo of a Carry On film with plenty of homoerotic scenes thrown in for good measure. Historical and humerous, this is one to enjoy and one to recommend to like-minded friends.

The Holmes/Watson type dynamic of Mitch and Boy Morgan is especially delicious, which I'm sure the butler would endorse! Lots of dastardly villains in the shape of the local constabulary and the manipulative Leonard Eagle. Enjoy!

No, not the Isis!!!, 07 Jun 2008

Yes, it's entertaining and yes it's arousing and thus fulfils its own brief. But ... oh dear Mr Lear, on page TWO you identify the river that flows through Cambridge as the Isis. It isn't. The Isis flows through Oxford. The "old" name of Cambridge's river Cam is the Granta (like the literary magazine). In a confection such as "Back Passage", it's these details (easily checked on Wikipedia, for God's sake), that make the difference between a genre-subverting delight and a ho-hum "well ... it's sort of OK and ... sort of fun ..."

Louis LaSalle's cover photograph is, as usual with Mr LaSalle, drop-dead sexy.








The Back Passage , 15 May 2008
A Funny, sexy "Who dunnit" book, with quite graphic sex in every chapter.
The main character Mitch takes every opportunity (and there are many) to enjoy his sexuality. James Lear is on to a winner with this character and I hope he takes him further into his adventures as a detective. I can't wait to read more.

Giggle fest almost the whole way through!, 03 Oct 2007
With the exception of a brief interlude of (appropriate to context) police brutality, I laughed the whole way through this book! I read it when working nightshift and my co-workers thought I was mad. Written in a great 1920's style it is very explicit and the sex scenes are very intense (and unrelenting). However, the humour in evident on every page. If you want a nice whodunnit buy agatha christie - want a whodunnit with wit and bite? Try this! Ok, as a straight woman I am maybe not the intended audience but as random purchases go, I am so glad I bought it. Hilarious.

5 stars for the cover!, 08 Aug 2007
Is there a label for this kind of gay lit that has proliferated in recent years? These romps are usually decently written and often quite diverting but their raison d'etre is the endless stream of graphically described sexual encounters in which just about every young guy the handsome hunky hero encounters is ready and willing. If you removed the continuous stream of sex fantasies nobody would be bothered to read these books and presumably the authors wouldn't be bothered to write them. This particular opus in totally anachronistic in the sense that the gay ethos of our modern age is transplanted to a 1920s setting. But it's all fantasy so what does it matter?
Now, are you looking for a dazzling example of a classic whodunnit from the Golden Age of the 20s and 30s? In which case do an Amazon search for the Poisoned Chocolates Case by Anthony Berkeley.
Or would you prefer a porny read that's pretty good fun, capably written with a so-so whodunnit stitched on? I thought so. In which case the Back Passage will do nicely.

The love that dare not speak its name..., 30 Jun 2006
Radclyffe Hall was an amazingly perceptive person who was born not only in the wrong body but the wrong era... This classic book is an absolute must for anyone confused about their sexuality. There is a reason why it is referred to as "the lesbian bible"...!! Without a doubt the inspiration for this book was Radclyffe Hall's own real life experiences interspersed with her own fantasies-on this occasion reality/fantasy work..!! NOT recommended in real-life..!!

The Well Of Loneliness, 12 Apr 2005
I love this book, it was given to me by my cousin, and I have to be honest, was not particularly enthusiastic about the prospect of reading it to begin with, but as soon as I got into it, I couldn't put it down.

However, I do not agree with the claim on the front of the cover describing it as "The Bible of Lesbianism" because in all honesty it is not. Radclyffe Hall may have herself been a lesbian, but in some ways this novel skirts over the issue and almost gives the impression that homosexuality is a negative thing. Obviously at the time that the novel is set in, she has to conform to certain social regulations, but referring to lesbians as "inverts" is not a particularly positive description in my eyes. Also trying to disguise the gender of the protagonist to a certain degree by calling her "Stephen" seems to also be an attempt to distract the reader from the issue of homosexuality that is clearly being conveyed.

However, this is beautifully written, it is a haunting piece of literature, that once read will never be forgotten. Hall may have been ahead of her time when the novel was first released, but she is now remembered as a classic and wonderful novelist whose words echo deeply within the heart of her readers.

This will reduce you to tears, I have never been so emotionally drained after finishing a book, but I truthfully believe that regardless of your view on sexuality, this is a love story, showing that love will force you to do anything to protect the one you truely care about and adore.

Exceptional.

Interesting book but not a great one, 03 Aug 2004
This is an interesting book, but suffers from the hype surrounding it. The early chapters describing Stephen's childhood and her relationship with her father (and to a lesser extent her mother) are very moving and definitely the best part of this novel. Once we come to Stephen's adult life, I felt it became rather dull and needed a lot more editing.

However, an interesting read.

Not worth the scandal it caused, 03 Jun 2002
If you're studying lesbian literature, obscenity trials or queer history in general, this book has unfortunately become foundation stuff and might be worth trawling through. If you're a young dyke just starting to read queer writing, it'll just make you feel hopeless and there are far better writers around. Radclyffe Hall may have been a pioneer and a martyr, and she does at least get marks for courage considering the atmosphere of the time, but as a writer she was mediocre (and apparently as a person she was a nasty piece of work).

Admittedly, the book is very much a product of its time. Sexual orientation was little understood, gender dysphoria even less so, and Hall appears to have got muddled up between the two. There is a mild stab at scientific explanation (Stephen's parents long for a boy, give her a boy's name, treat her as a boy to a certain extent - and surprise surprise, she grows up to like girls and dress as a man), and a very clear line drawn between "inverts" and "normals" that will make anyone grit their teeth long before they come to the depressing way in which Stephen "heroically" solves her final dilemma. The depiction of the relatively "normal" women Stephen loves as properly girly creatures, who are swayed by the perils of Sapphic passion but are still Real Women underneath, contains some pretty unpleasant stereotypes about bisexuals and "femme" women, and the characterisation throughout neither arouses sympathy in the reader nor particularly convinces.

Despite the obscenity trial, there is nothing scandalous in this book beyond the idea that a woman could love women: the dirtiest it gets is the all-concealing line, "...And that night they were not divided." (Sorry if that's a spoiler, but as a friend of mine said, "You mean I've read hundreds of pages about her miserable childhood for *that*?")

If you want lesbian sex, there are plenty of writers offering that sort of thing these days, and some of them even write about it well (Emma Donoghue, for instance, who is, incidentally, a vivid, moving and very funny writer). If you're after lesbian literature of that period, go to Virginia Woolf and co. (there are also some excellent anthologies, such as the "Penguin Book of Lesbian Short Stories" and "Chloe Plus Olivia", that take a literary-historical perspective). If you simply want a well-written book about love between women, again there is far better on offer: the previous two writers and also the likes of Jane Rule and Alice Walker. And if you're interested in transsexuality and the boundaries between genders (not to mention the people who fall in the middle), I can recommend Anna Livia's "Bruised Fruit" and Rose Tremain's "Sacred Country". Spare yourself this.

A fantastic piece of literature!, 13 Dec 2001
'The Well of Lonliness' is an absolutely sensational book. The way in which Hall explores the feelings and emotions of Stephen are stunningly effective. I couldn't put this book down and the empathy which she makes you feel with the characters is incredible. This is the first book which reduced me to tears- I defy anyone not to be moved by it. I advise anyone and everyone to read this book as it truely is a fantastic piece of literature.

A real page turner, 02 Aug 2008
The story of Drew and Jay, drawn to each other at their first meeting but with Jay in a failing relationship, the book follows their relationship from its beginnings in freindly flirtation through to its climax on a luxury holiday where Jay and her partner and Drew and her date and all present. A real page turner where the sexual tension continues to build with each page Gerri Hill has done it again, a wonderful read.

Lip Bitingly good, 31 Aug 2008
My Sarah waters virginity was lost with "Fingersmith" (which i adored), so i naturally moved onto Tipping the Velvet. Unlike Fingersmith, there is only one character to focus on. Not that this was a bad thing however; in fact it made the book more intense. You could completly induldge in Nans thoughts, feelings, experiences and heart break. It was a deliciously smooth read which i found impossible to put down and shall re-read over an over. If you want to give your mind something to devour, then let it be Tipping the Velvet. You wont be dissapointed.

I feel I grew up with these two young women, 15 Jan 2008
By Mr. W. Dover "aspiring nobody" (Duesseldorf, Germany) - See all my reviews


This story just takes you right inside the lives of two young women living in Victorian England. These central characters are both experiencing so many new things in their lives, yet they gradually find that they have fundamentally different motives and desires. Either they are greedy for admiration and fame, or they are falling in love for the first time.

Like Sarah Waters' more recent novel "The Night Watch", this book is tragic, but with comic moments and as such I think it a masterwork. Classical in its overarching themes of "coming out of the Garden of Eden" (and no pun intended about Coming out), or coming to terms with the world, it sweeps you along with the journey of the characters. Everything the women experience affects the reader in a way that cannot be described. As a male reader, not aware of any particular preconceptions, I watched & loved the TV series, then had to read the book (albeit several years later though).

A element common to great works of fiction, surely, is that the reader shares the emotions of the central protagonists, for better or worse, along the course of the story. And that's exactly what I found whilst reading this tale. Regardless of sex, or sexual persuasion "Tipping the Velvet" pulls you in and doesn't let go. "Unputtdownable" is a term much overused these days. Whatever your opinion on that, I recommend that if you enjoy historical fiction or not; if you identify with idealistic yet reckless (to use one of Waters' favourite words) heroines or not; if you can't abide people who use others according to their own whims and fancies, or if you find that irrelevant; if you want to escape into another time and place as if you never knew any other life; in short, if you are fond of books that enthrall and entrance, then this is the one for you.

I cannot emphasise enough how deeply this book moved me. It makes you want to go and dance on the stage, like the women do. A wonderful, fulfilling and uplifting story. Ultimately life-enhancing.

A good read, 07 Oct 2007
It's reputation as a Victorian lesbian bodice ripper having preceded it, I wasn't quite sure what to expect from Tipping the Velvet. I needn't have worried - it is an extremely well written book, which drew me into the story and kept me intrigued from the very start.

The main topic of the story is lesbianism in the 1890s, and as such it is pretty graphic at many points. Therefore readers who are upset by homosexuality or descriptive sex scenes of any kind should avoid this book. However, it is very well written with a strong cast of interesting characters and plenty of twists and turns in the plot.

I did feel that the story lost some of its momentum in parts 2 and 3, but it was still enjoyable and didn't drag. The ending worked well, and I was left feeling pleased I'd given the book a chance. I would recommend this to any reader over 16, as long as they aren't worried by the sex scenes.

A Lesbo-Victorian Romp, 10 Sep 2007
...as jokingly described by Sarah Waters herself. But oh how much more than that it is. The story is that of Nan Astley, a young and naive oyster girl who falls in love with another woman, thus changing her life forever. We're taken into a great tale of showbusiness, the secret Victorian lesbian underworld, and so much more.
Sarah Waters' usual fantastic writing and imagination brings us yet another brilliant book.

Filled with sex, seduction, pain, heartache, violence, and all in the beautifully described Victorian era, this is a book you will not be able to put down until you have finished every word!

Fabulous, 27 Aug 2007
I watched the TV series when it was out originally - isn't that about 6 years or so ago now? - and then read this only recently. Commendations to the directors as they used the book so well. It didn't detract from my enjoyment as the book was perfectly well written and actually helped because I could hear/see the characters in my mind.

I think this is a well-known plot and doesn't need much further saying about it. The sex is, well, very explicit and very raunchy but wonderfull written. The learning Nancy goes through is heartbreaking and yet character building for her. Leaving the loving bosom of one family to finally end up in the arms of another. Beautiful!

Fabulous plot, excellent narrative and a true page turner.

This book is HOT!, 04 Apr 2008
This collection of short stories is an absolute scorching read. I was unable to stop reading it and, in the end, I had to ration myself to one or two stories a night.

The subjects cover the whole range of lesbian sexual expression and there is going to be something for everyone inside its pages. It is rude, raunchy, seductive and just plain sexy.

I was aroused by the stories pretty much all the time and my girlfriend kept getting woken up regularly when I was reading it in bed.

Buy it, it will really give you ideas.

in one word WET!, 14 Jan 2006
wow this makes a good night time read and a good book to share with your girlfriend there is a fanasy for everyone and also some new ones. Its not for the faint harted this book is rude, rude, rude

Up All Night - Kitten - Stephanie Taylor - WoW!!!!, 05 May 2005
What can I say apart from WOW!!!

This collection of short stories leads the reader on an exhilarating journey through the most intimate desires, emotions and sexual experimentations of contemporary lesbian women.

One story in particular made this book well worth reading...

Kitten by new author Stephanie Taylor fuses pure energy and vibrancy in its narrative with unadulterated erotic drama that left me tingling all over. I am on tenterhooks waiting for the next publication by this exciting author which promises at the very least to be thrilling!!!!

Thoughts of a straight reader, 02 Feb 2004
So, it wasn't what I wanted but heh, what do I know? Simply put if you are after fantasy material written for the selfish straight male - do not buy this book - go to the newsagents and buy an appropriate glossy magazine. This book is not pornography it is beautifully crafted and emotional literature that I enjoyed.

I may even have learned something:about modern sapphism - yes, women in general - perhaps, how to relate sex to emotion - absolutly.

My only concern is that like the character who watches her partner on the sly (read it) I am a guilty voyeur intruding on a world to which I wasn'ted invited and do not belong. Do I feel guilty - not really. I feel enlightened.

A right ripping yarn!, 06 Sep 2008
All the intrigue of Agatha Christie, all the fun of a game of Cluedo, all the innuendo of a Carry On film with plenty of homoerotic scenes thrown in for good measure. Historical and humerous, this is one to enjoy and one to recommend to like-minded friends.

The Holmes/Watson type dynamic of Mitch and Boy Morgan is especially delicious, which I'm sure the butler would endorse! Lots of dastardly villains in the shape of the local constabulary and the manipulative Leonard Eagle. Enjoy!

No, not the Isis!!!, 07 Jun 2008

Yes, it's entertaining and yes it's arousing and thus fulfils its own brief. But ... oh dear Mr Lear, on page TWO you identify the river that flows through Cambridge as the Isis. It isn't. The Isis flows through Oxford. The "old" name of Cambridge's river Cam is the Granta (like the literary magazine). In a confection such as "Back Passage", it's these details (easily checked on Wikipedia, for God's sake), that make the difference between a genre-subverting delight and a ho-hum "well ... it's sort of OK and ... sort of fun ..."

Louis LaSalle's cover photograph is, as usual with Mr LaSalle, drop-dead sexy.








The Back Passage , 15 May 2008
A Funny, sexy "Who dunnit" book, with quite graphic sex in every chapter.
The main character Mitch takes every opportunity (and there are many) to enjoy his sexuality. James Lear is on to a winner with this character and I hope he takes him further into his adventures as a detective. I can't wait to read more.

Giggle fest almost the whole way through!, 03 Oct 2007
With the exception of a brief interlude of (appropriate to context) police brutality, I laughed the whole way through this book! I read it when working nightshift and my co-workers thought I was mad. Written in a great 1920's style it is very explicit and the sex scenes are very intense (and unrelenting). However, the humour in evident on every page. If you want a nice whodunnit buy agatha christie - want a whodunnit with wit and bite? Try this! Ok, as a straight woman I am maybe not the intended audience but as random purchases go, I am so glad I bought it. Hilarious.

5 stars for the cover!, 08 Aug 2007
Is there a label for this kind of gay lit that has proliferated in recent years? These romps are usually decently written and often quite diverting but their raison d'etre is the endless stream of graphically described sexual encounters in which just about every young guy the handsome hunky hero encounters is ready and willing. If you removed the continuous stream of sex fantasies nobody would be bothered to read these books and presumably the authors wouldn't be bothered to write them. This particular opus in totally anachronistic in the sense that the gay ethos of our modern age is transplanted to a 1920s setting. But it's all fantasy so what does it matter?
Now, are you looking for a dazzling example of a classic whodunnit from the Golden Age of the 20s and 30s? In which case do an Amazon search for the Poisoned Chocolates Case by Anthony Berkeley.
Or would you prefer a porny read that's pretty good fun, capably written with a so-so whodunnit stitched on? I thought so. In which case the Back Passage will do nicely.

The love that dare not speak its name..., 30 Jun 2006
Radclyffe Hall was an amazingly perceptive person who was born not only in the wrong body but the wrong era... This classic book is an absolute must for anyone confused about their sexuality. There is a reason why it is referred to as "the lesbian bible"...!! Without a doubt the inspiration for this book was Radclyffe Hall's own real life experiences interspersed with her own fantasies-on this occasion reality/fantasy work..!! NOT recommended in real-life..!!

The Well Of Loneliness, 12 Apr 2005
I love this book, it was given to me by my cousin, and I have to be honest, was not particularly enthusiastic about the prospect of reading it to begin with, but as soon as I got into it, I couldn't put it down.

However, I do not agree with the claim on the front of the cover describing it as "The Bible of Lesbianism" because in all honesty it is not. Radclyffe Hall may have herself been a lesbian, but in some ways this novel skirts over the issue and almost gives the impression that homosexuality is a negative thing. Obviously at the time that the novel is set in, she has to conform to certain social regulations, but referring to lesbians as "inverts" is not a particularly positive description in my eyes. Also trying to disguise the gender of the protagonist to a certain degree by calling her "Stephen" seems to also be an attempt to distract the reader from the issue of homosexuality that is clearly being conveyed.

However, this is beautifully written, it is a haunting piece of literature, that once read will never be forgotten. Hall may have been ahead of her time when the novel was first released, but she is now remembered as a classic and wonderful novelist whose words echo deeply within the heart of her readers.

This will reduce you to tears, I have never been so emotionally drained after finishing a book, but I truthfully believe that regardless of your view on sexuality, this is a love story, showing that love will force you to do anything to protect the one you truely care about and adore.

Exceptional.

Interesting book but not a great one, 03 Aug 2004
This is an interesting book, but suffers from the hype surrounding it. The early chapters describing Stephen's childhood and her relationship with her father (and to a lesser extent her mother) are very moving and definitely the best part of this novel. Once we come to Stephen's adult life, I felt it became rather dull and needed a lot more editing.

However, an interesting read.

Not worth the scandal it caused, 03 Jun 2002
If you're studying lesbian literature, obscenity trials or queer history in general, this book has unfortunately become foundation stuff and might be worth trawling through. If you're a young dyke just starting to read queer writing, it'll just make you feel hopeless and there are far better writers around. Radclyffe Hall may have been a pioneer and a martyr, and she does at least get marks for courage considering the atmosphere of the time, but as a writer she was mediocre (and apparently as a person she was a nasty piece of work).

Admittedly, the book is very much a product of its time. Sexual orientation was little understood, gender dysphoria even less so, and Hall appears to have got muddled up between the two. There is a mild stab at scientific explanation (Stephen's parents long for a boy, give her a boy's name, treat her as a boy to a certain extent - and surprise surprise, she grows up to like girls and dress as a man), and a very clear line drawn between "inverts" and "normals" that will make anyone grit their teeth long before they come to the depressing way in which Stephen "heroically" solves her final dilemma. The depiction of the relatively "normal" women Stephen loves as properly girly creatures, who are swayed by the perils of Sapphic passion but are still Real Women underneath, contains some pretty unpleasant stereotypes about bisexuals and "femme" women, and the characterisation throughout neither arouses sympathy in the reader nor particularly convinces.

Despite the obscenity trial, there is nothing scandalous in this book beyond the idea that a woman could love women: the dirtiest it gets is the all-concealing line, "...And that night they were not divided." (Sorry if that's a spoiler, but as a friend of mine said, "You mean I've read hundreds of pages about her miserable childhood for *that*?")

If you want lesbian sex, there are plenty of writers offering that sort of thing these days, and some of them even write about it well (Emma Donoghue, for instance, who is, incidentally, a vivid, moving and very funny writer). If you're after lesbian literature of that period, go to Virginia Woolf and co. (there are also some excellent anthologies, such as the "Penguin Book of Lesbian Short Stories" and "Chloe Plus Olivia", that take a literary-historical perspective). If you simply want a well-written book about love between women, again there is far better on offer: the previous two writers and also the likes of Jane Rule and Alice Walker. And if you're interested in transsexuality and the boundaries between genders (not to mention the people who fall in the middle), I can recommend Anna Livia's "Bruised Fruit" and Rose Tremain's "Sacred Country". Spare yourself this.

A fantastic piece of literature!, 13 Dec 2001
'The Well of Lonliness' is an absolutely sensational book. The way in which Hall explores the feelings and emotions of Stephen are stunningly effective. I couldn't put this book down and the empathy which she makes you feel with the characters is incredible. This is the first book which reduced me to tears- I defy anyone not to be moved by it. I advise anyone and everyone to read this book as it truely is a fantastic piece of literature.

A real page turner, 02 Aug 2008
The story of Drew and Jay, drawn to each other at their first meeting but with Jay in a failing relationship, the book follows their relationship from its beginnings in freindly flirtation through to its climax on a luxury holiday where Jay and her partner and Drew and her date and all present. A real page turner where the sexual tension continues to build with each page Gerri Hill has done it again, a wonderful read.

Too Close to Touch, 22 Oct 2007
Just fantastic!! It was the first book that ever got a tear from me...such a lovely love story and very well written!!

Simply excellent, 19 Dec 2006
This book is simply amazing. The tension created between the two characters was done very, very well, their rapour seemed fantastic and I felt along with them. The dialogue was written convincingly and some situations reminded me heavily of one's i have experienced myself. This book made me think about things in my life for a while afterwards when very few books have had this effect on me. I wanted to pick it up and read it again, almost straight after putting it down. It is very much, worth a read. I place this book in a much higher regard than the best selling lesbian novel - curious wine. A must buy.

500 stars!!, 15 Jul 2006
Life gets complicated when love turns out to be nothing like you expected - and the woman you want is too close to touch.

Gretchen Kaiser is a workaholic corporate honcho with issues - she's got daddy issues, she's got female-executive-in-a-man's-world issues, and she's got one night stand issues. What she doesn't have are love issues. She isn't looking for it, she doesn't feel she needs it, and she doesn't expect to find it...certainly not right under her nose. Kylie O'Brien is the kind of girl who believes in true love and is willing to wait until it shows up at her door. Her best friend Mick would sweep her off her feet given the chance, but Mick doesn't make Kylie feel the way true love should. And now Kylie has to worry about her new boss - Gretchen Kaiser's icy reserve makes life as her administrative assistant a challenge. It doesn't matter one damn bit that Gretchen is extremely attractive with a voice as rich and smooth as melted chocolate. It absolutely doesn't...

Lip Bitingly good, 31 Aug 2008
My Sarah waters virginity was lost with "Fingersmith" (which i adored), so i naturally moved onto Tipping the Velvet. Unlike Fingersmith, there is only one character to focus on. Not that this was a bad thing however; in fact it made the book more intense. You could completly induldge in Nans thoughts, feelings, experiences and heart break. It was a deliciously smooth read which i found impossible to put down and shall re-read over an over. If you want to give your mind something to devour, then let it be Tipping the Velvet. You wont be dissapointed.

I feel I grew up with these two young women, 15 Jan 2008
By Mr. W. Dover "aspiring nobody" (Duesseldorf, Germany) - See all my reviews


This story just takes you right inside the lives of two young women living in Victorian England. These central characters are both experiencing so many new things in their lives, yet they gradually find that they have fundamentally different motives and desires. Either they are greedy for admiration and fame, or they are falling in love for the first time.

Like Sarah Waters' more recent novel "The Night Watch", this book is tragic, but with comic moments and as such I think it a masterwork. Classical in its overarching themes of "coming out of the Garden of Eden" (and no pun intended about Coming out), or coming to terms with the world, it sweeps you along with the journey of the characters. Everything the women experience affects the reader in a way that cannot be described. As a male reader, not aware of any particular preconceptions, I watched & loved the TV series, then had to read the book (albeit several years later though).

A element common to great works of fiction, surely, is that the reader shares the emotions of the central protagonists, for better or worse, along the course of the story. And that's exactly what I found whilst reading this tale. Regardless of sex, or sexual persuasion "Tipping the Velvet" pulls you in and doesn't let go. "Unputtdownable" is a term much overused these days. Whatever your opinion on that, I recommend that if you enjoy historical fiction or not; if you identify with idealistic yet reckless (to use one of Waters' favourite words) heroines or not; if you can't abide people who use others according to their own whims and fancies, or if you find that irrelevant; if you want to escape into another time and place as if you never knew any other life; in short, if you are fond of books that enthrall and entrance, then this is the one for you.

I cannot emphasise enough how deeply this book moved me. It makes you want to go and dance on the stage, like the women do. A wonderful, fulfilling and uplifting story. Ultimately life-enhancing.

A good read, 07 Oct 2007
It's reputation as a Victorian lesbian bodice ripper having preceded it, I wasn't quite sure what to expect from Tipping the Velvet. I needn't have worried - it is an extremely well written book, which drew me into the story and kept me intrigued from the very start.

The main topic of the story is lesbianism in the 1890s, and as such it is pretty graphic at many points. Therefore readers who are upset by homosexuality or descriptive sex scenes of any kind should avoid this book. However, it is very well written with a strong cast of interesting characters and plenty of twists and turns in the plot.

I did feel that the story lost some of its momentum in parts 2 and 3, but it was still enjoyable and didn't drag. The ending worked well, and I was left feeling pleased I'd given the book a chance. I would recommend this to any reader over 16, as long as they aren't worried by the sex scenes.

A Lesbo-Victorian Romp, 10 Sep 2007
...as jokingly described by Sarah Waters herself. But oh how much more than that it is. The story is that of Nan Astley, a young and naive oyster girl who falls in love with another woman, thus changing her life forever. We're taken into a great tale of showbusiness, the secret Victorian lesbian underworld, and so much more.
Sarah Waters' usual fantastic writing and imagination brings us yet another brilliant book.

Filled with sex, seduction, pain, heartache, violence, and all in the beautifully described Victorian era, this is a book you will not be able to put down until you have finished every word!

Fabulous, 27 Aug 2007
I watched the TV series when it was out originally - isn't that about 6 years or so ago now? - and then read this only recently. Commendations to the directors as they used the book so well. It didn't detract from my enjoyment as the book was perfectly well written and actually helped because I could hear/see the characters in my mind.

I think this is a well-known plot and doesn't need much further saying about it. The sex is, well, very explicit and very raunchy but wonderfull written. The learning Nancy goes through is heartbreaking and yet character building for her. Leaving the loving bosom of one family to finally end up in the arms of another. Beautiful!

Fabulous plot, excellent narrative and a true page turner.

This book is HOT!, 04 Apr 2008
This collection of short stories is an absolute scorching read. I was unable to stop reading it and, in the end, I had to ration myself to one or two stories a night.

The subjects cover the whole range of lesbian sexual expression and there is going to be something for everyone inside its pages. It is rude, raunchy, seductive and just plain sexy.

I was aroused by the stories pretty much all the time and my girlfriend kept getting woken up regularly when I was reading it in bed.

Buy it, it will really give you ideas.

in one word WET!, 14 Jan 2006
wow this makes a good night time read and a good book to share with your girlfriend there is a fanasy for everyone and also some new ones. Its not for the faint harted this book is rude, rude, rude

Up All Night - Kitten - Stephanie Taylor - WoW!!!!, 05 May 2005
What can I say apart from WOW!!!

This collection of short stories leads the reader on an exhilarating journey through the most intimate desires, emotions and sexual experimentations of contemporary lesbian women.

One story in particular made this book well worth reading...

Kitten by new author Stephanie Taylor fuses pure energy and vibrancy in its narrative with unadulterated erotic drama that left me tingling all over. I am on tenterhooks waiting for the next publication by this exciting author which promises at the very least to be thrilling!!!!

Thoughts of a straight reader, 02 Feb 2004
So, it wasn't what I wanted but heh, what do I know? Simply put if you are after fantasy material written for the selfish straight male - do not buy this book - go to the newsagents and buy an appropriate glossy magazine. This book is not pornography it is beautifully crafted and emotional literature that I enjoyed.

I may even have learned something:about modern sapphism - yes, women in general - perhaps, how to relate sex to emotion - absolutly.

My only concern is that like the character who watches her partner on the sly (read it) I am a guilty voyeur intruding on a world to which I wasn'ted invited and do not belong. Do I feel guilty - not really. I feel enlightened.

A right ripping yarn!, 06 Sep 2008
All the intrigue of Agatha Christie, all the fun of a game of Cluedo, all the innuendo of a Carry On film with plenty of homoerotic scenes thrown in for good measure. Historical and humerous, this is one to enjoy and one to recommend to like-minded friends.

The Holmes/Watson type dynamic of Mitch and Boy Morgan is especially delicious, which I'm sure the butler would endorse! Lots of dastardly villains in the shape of the local constabulary and the manipulative Leonard Eagle. Enjoy!

No, not the Isis!!!, 07 Jun 2008

Yes, it's entertaining and yes it's arousing and thus fulfils its own brief. But ... oh dear Mr Lear, on page TWO you identify the river that flows through Cambridge as the Isis. It isn't. The Isis flows through Oxford. The "old" name of Cambridge's river Cam is the Granta (like the literary magazine). In a confection such as "Back Passage", it's these details (easily checked on Wikipedia, for God's sake), that make the difference between a genre-subverting delight and a ho-hum "well ... it's sort of OK and ... sort of fun ..."

Louis LaSalle's cover photograph is, as usual with Mr LaSalle, drop-dead sexy.








The Back Passage , 15 May 2008
A Funny, sexy "Who dunnit" book, with quite graphic sex in every chapter.
The main character Mitch takes every opportunity (and there are many) to enjoy his sexuality. James Lear is on to a winner with this character and I hope he takes him further into his adventures as a detective. I can't wait to read more.

Giggle fest almost the whole way through!, 03 Oct 2007
With the exception of a brief interlude of (appropriate to context) police brutality, I laughed the whole way through this book! I read it when working nightshift and my co-workers thought I was mad. Written in a great 1920's style it is very explicit and the sex scenes are very intense (and unrelenting). However, the humour in evident on every page. If you want a nice whodunnit buy agatha christie - want a whodunnit with wit and bite? Try this! Ok, as a straight woman I am maybe not the intended audience but as random purchases go, I am so glad I bought it. Hilarious.

5 stars for the cover!, 08 Aug 2007
Is there a label for this kind of gay lit that has proliferated in recent years? These romps are usually decently written and often quite diverting but their raison d'etre is the endless stream of graphically described sexual encounters in which just about every young guy the handsome hunky hero encounters is ready and willing. If you removed the continuous stream of sex fantasies nobody would be bothered to read these books and presumably the authors wouldn't be bothered to write them. This particular opus in totally anachronistic in the sense that the gay ethos of our modern age is transplanted to a 1920s setting. But it's all fantasy so what does it matter?
Now, are you looking for a dazzling example of a classic whodunnit from the Golden Age of the 20s and 30s? In which case do an Amazon search for the Poisoned Chocolates Case by Anthony Berkeley.
Or would you prefer a porny read that's pretty good fun, capably written with a so-so whodunnit stitched on? I thought so. In which case the Back Passage will do nicely.

The love that dare not speak its name..., 30 Jun 2006
Radclyffe Hall was an amazingly perceptive person who was born not only in the wrong body but the wrong era... This classic book is an absolute must for anyone confused about their sexuality. There is a reason why it is referred to as "the lesbian bible"...!! Without a doubt the inspiration for this book was Radclyffe Hall's own real life experiences interspersed with her own fantasies-on this occasion reality/fantasy work..!! NOT recommended in real-life..!!

The Well Of Loneliness, 12 Apr 2005
I love this book, it was given to me by my cousin, and I have to be honest, was not particularly enthusiastic about the prospect of reading it to begin with, but as soon as I got into it, I couldn't put it down.

However, I do not agree with the claim on the front of the cover describing it as "The Bible of Lesbianism" because in all honesty it is not. Radclyffe Hall may have herself been a lesbian, but in some ways this novel skirts over the issue and almost gives the impression that homosexuality is a negative thing. Obviously at the time that the novel is set in, she has to conform to certain social regulations, but referring to lesbians as "inverts" is not a particularly positive description in my eyes. Also trying to disguise the gender of the protagonist to a certain degree by calling her "Stephen" seems to also be an attempt to distract the reader from the issue of homosexuality that is clearly being conveyed.

However, this is beautifully written, it is a haunting piece of literature, that once read will never be forgotten. Hall may have been ahead of her time when the novel was first released, but she is now remembered as a classic and wonderful novelist whose words echo deeply within the heart of her readers.

This will reduce you to tears, I have never been so emotionally drained after finishing a book, but I truthfully believe that regardless of your view on sexuality, this is a love story, showing that love will force you to do anything to protect the one you truely care about and adore.

Exceptional.

Interesting book but not a great one, 03 Aug 2004
This is an interesting book, but suffers from the hype surrounding it. The early chapters describing Stephen's childhood and her relationship with her father (and to a lesser extent her mother) are very moving and definitely the best part of this novel. Once we come to Stephen's adult life, I felt it became rather dull and needed a lot more editing.

However, an interesting read.

Not worth the scandal it caused, 03 Jun 2002
If you're studying lesbian literature, obscenity trials or queer history in general, this book has unfortunately become foundation stuff and might be worth trawling through. If you're a young dyke just starting to read queer writing, it'll just make you feel hopeless and there are far better writers around. Radclyffe Hall may have been a pioneer and a martyr, and she does at least get marks for courage considering the atmosphere of the time, but as a writer she was mediocre (and apparently as a person she was a nasty piece of work).

Admittedly, the book is very much a product of its time. Sexual orientation was little understood, gender dysphoria even less so, and Hall appears to have got muddled up between the two. There is a mild stab at scientific explanation (Stephen's parents long for a boy, give her a boy's name, treat her as a boy to a certain extent - and surprise surprise, she grows up to like girls and dress as a man), and a very clear line drawn between "inverts" and "normals" that will make anyone grit their teeth long before they come to the depressing way in which Stephen "heroically" solves her final dilemma. The depiction of the relatively "normal" women Stephen loves as properly girly creatures, who are swayed by the perils of Sapphic passion but are still Real Women underneath, contains some pretty unpleasant stereotypes about bisexuals and "femme" women, and the characterisation throughout neither arouses sympathy in the reader nor particularly convinces.

Despite the obscenity trial, there is nothing scandalous in this book beyond the idea that a woman could love women: the dirtiest it gets is the all-concealing line, "...And that night they were not divided." (Sorry if that's a spoiler, but as a friend of mine said, "You mean I've read hundreds of pages about her miserable childhood for