{"product_id":"valentine-grey","title":"Valentine Grey","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA young woman takes her cousin's uniform and goes to war in his place — from the much-loved broadcaster and author of \u003cem\u003eBetween the Stops\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eToksvig's Almanac\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLondon, 1897. Valentine Grey arrives in England having been brought up in the remote and sunny climes of India, and finds being forced into corsets and skirts in a damp, cold country insufferable. The only bright spot is her exciting cousin, Reggie.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eReggie and his lover Frank seek out the adventure that the clandestine bars and streets of London offer, and are happy to include Valentine in their secret — showing her theatre and gardens, and even teaching her to ride a bicycle.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThen comes the Boer War, and Reggie's father volunteers him; the empire must be defended. But it will not be Reggie who dons the Volunteer Regiment's garb. Valentine takes her chance, puts on her cousin's uniform, and leaves for war.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFor a while it is glorious and liberating for both cousins. But war is not glorious — and in Victorian London, homosexuality is not liberating.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch4\u003ePraise\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003cblockquote\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e“Teasing out untold stories of the battlefield… follows the footsteps of the likes of Sarah Waters and Pat Barker.”\u003c\/em\u003e — \u003cstrong\u003eIndependent\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\u003ch4\u003eAbout the author\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSandi Toksvig\u003c\/strong\u003e is a writer, broadcaster and performer, the author of \u003cem\u003eBetween the Stops\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eToksvig's Almanac\u003c\/em\u003e, and a familiar voice to listeners and viewers across the world.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch4\u003ePerfect for readers of\u003c\/h4\u003e\u003cp\u003eSarah Waters, Pat Barker, and historical fiction that puts women and queer lives back into the record. Of particular interest to Indian readers — its heroine begins the book leaving India behind.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Virago (Hachette)","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52116957462744,"sku":"9780349021959","price":699.0,"currency_code":"INR","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0818\/1471\/6632\/files\/9780349021959.jpg?v=1785540709","url":"https:\/\/www.readersparadise.co\/products\/valentine-grey","provider":"Readers Paradise","version":"1.0","type":"link"}