Valentine Grey

Toksvig's warm characterisation drives the narrative, especially when set against her droll yet richly detailed evocation of an unedifying period of modern history . . . Toksvig's shining creation, Valentine Grey, [is] a courageous and captivating character . . . begging for a sequel
Teasing out untold stories of the battlefield and of gay history . . . follows in the footsteps of the likes of Sarah Waters and Pat Barker . . . Toksvig's seemingly effortless ability to entertain shines through
'Teasing out untold stories of the battlefield and of gay history . . . follows in the footsteps of the likes of Sarah Waters and Pat Barker . . . Toksvig's seemingly effortless ability to entertain shines through' Lucy Scholes, Independent

London 1897 and a young girl, Valentine Grey, arrives in England from the sunnier climes of India. She finds the damp and cold country insufferable and the only bright spot is her exciting cousin, Reggie. He and his lover, Frank, seek out adventure in the clandestine bars and streets of London, and are happy to include Valentine in their secret.

And then comes the Boer War. But it won't be Reggie who dons the Volunteer Regiment's garb. Valentine takes her chance, puts on her cousin's uniform, and heads off to war. And for a while it's glorious and liberating, but war is not glorious and in Victorian London homosexuality is not liberating . . .

'Toksvig's warm characterisation drives the narrative, especially when set against her droll yet richly detailed evocation of an unedifying period of modern history . . . begging for a sequel' Lucy Beresford, Sunday Telegraph