TIPPING THE VELVET

From the moment Nancy Astley sees Kitty Butler, male impersonator, on the music hall stage, her life is changed forever. She moves from happiness to heartbreak, from street pickups for survival to becoming a "boy toy" for a wealthy, sadistic Sapphist to true love. More than "adult literature" or a "lesbian picaresque," the story chronicles a young woman's coming of age -- admittedly, with a twist. Exceptional writing by Sarah Waters and a breathtaking performance by Juanita McMahon provide a rare view of London's demimonde. McMahon's throaty voice and wide variety of authentic accents bring Victorian-era sexuality, lush in its erotic detail, to life. Her narrative power is especially impressive in the Socialist call-to-action speech Nancy makes toward the book's finale. Nancy's story is well written, entertaining, and artfully performed. S.J.H. (c) AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC 03/JAN 04]