Lilian and Alice are the bright young twin daughters of the eccentric Mr Talbot, who resides in a huge mansion stuffed full of fossils, inventions, suits of armour, botanical specimens and other specimens of his sprawling collection of curiosities.

When Lilian rebels against Victorian standards of morality she is packed off to India as the bride of a dreary missionary, leaving Alice alone and in danger of falling victim to her father's bizarre and hair-raising schemes.

This lively and entertaining novel follows the two girls on their very different paths to freedom and is set against the tumultuous backdrop of the Indian Mutiny.

Shortlisted for the Saltire First Book prize, the Scottish Arts Council First Book Award and the Guildford Literary Festival First Book Award.

'Flashman for girls'. A rollicking story of twin sisters and their fight for freedom, set in 1857.

About the Author
Elaine di Rollo comes from Lancashire and now lives in Scotland. She has a PhD from Edinburgh University in the social history of medicine, and is currently a lecturer at Napier University. A Proper Education for Girls (first published as The Peachgrowers' Almanac), was shortlisted for the Saltire First Book prize, the Scottish Arts Council First Book Award and the Guildford Literary Festival First Book Award. Her second novel is Bleakly Hall.

Reviews
[An] assured, very funny debut; one of the best I've read this year * Scotland on Sunday *
A generous, rollicking read... it harks back to the loving pastiche of Angela Carter and, more recently, the camp Victoriana of Susanna Clarke and Michel Faber * Scotland on Sunday *
A novel to shock and delight -- Katherine McMahon
Beautifully written and an absolute joy to read... Elaine di Rollo's debut should be read and it should be rewarded too * Scotsman *
Entertaining... Fun and farcical * Financial Times *



Book Information
ISBN 9780099513469
Author Elaine di Rollo
Format Paperback
Page Count 352
Imprint Vintage
Publisher Vintage Publishing
Weight(grams) 242g
Dimensions(mm) 198mm * 129mm * 22mm