The Flight of the Black Swan: A Bawdy Novella

by Jean Roberta

Imagine an upper class English girl kidnapped by pirates when she was eleven, and eventually returned to her family. If this sounds familiar, you've probably either read the classic book A High Wind in Jamaica by Richard Hughes, or seen the movie. Whatever you may imagine, Jean Roberta has taken the grown-up Emily far beyond your--or the younger Emily's--wildest speculations. This is, indeed, a "Bawdy Novella," but there is more to it than that. Emily is a smart, spirited heroine, adventurous enough to see the bright side of the unspoken (and unfounded) assumption that she must be "damaged goods." When her romantic affair at a girls' school is abruptly ended because of her lover's cowardice, Emily tosses off the constraints of 19th century English society and returns to the sea on a more-or-less pirate ship, the Black Swan, manned by gay fugitives from the British Navy.

Genres: Historical

142 pages, Paperback

First published January 25, 2013

About the author

"Jean Roberta" (identified this way in most of her published work) was born long ago and far away. She now lives on the Canadian prairies with her female partner (married since 2010). Approximately 100 of Jean's stories have appeared in print anthologies, including the "Best Women's Erotica" and "Best Lesbian Erotica" series & numerous other collections from Cleis Press. Her historical novella, The Flight of the Black Swan, is available in several formats from Lethe Press, including an audiobook. One of her stories was turned into a short film, and her talk on the history of censorship in Chapters bookstore was televised on the community channel.

Reviews

[Ilhem · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 stars

What a surprising tale!

The Flight of The Black Swan is basically porn with every possible combination of "f" and "m", strong emphasis on "f".

Emily who suffers from heartbreak embarks on the Black Swan, which is no less than an lgbt Noah's ark sailing from a Victorian Great Britain to an America wrecked by civil war. The plot is minimal, but Emma's voice is fantastic, it was like reading Beaumarchais' erotic tales porn again!

It's a festival of bluntness in purple prose mixed with witty insights on society, her time, "unnatural" love, and from time to time, you can hear an undercurrent more modern voice smirking at the romance genre.

I would have rated it higher if I hadn't grown a little tired of the porn but it is a very entertaining surprise!

"Love comes in many forms and it is no less real when it is less than perfect.

[Annabeth Leong]

This book has as many attractions as its irresistible heroine. I loved her from the first sentence. Emily is a case study for the benefits of a first-person voice. She speaks with a distinct tone and powerful intimacy, and the story is better for being seen through her eyes.

I can't remember the last time an erotic novella felt so bright to me—and The Flight of the Black Swan somehow managed to feel sexy, sun drenched and light-hearted while engaging with thorny issues of social injustice. Let me say more about what I mean by "bright."

First, what drives the heat here is desire, not shame. I don't believe this is as much of a no-brainer as it may seem. I don't think I've ever read a book with so much varied sex with multiple partners in which the main character truly claimed her sexuality and refused to feel shame. (I have read books that tried to pull this off, but didn't manage it). Roberta makes me believe in Emily's ownership of her sexuality, and it is incredibly refreshing. If someone had told me this before I read the book, I would have been skeptical about whether it could be done, and I would also have worried whether the heat would be diminished as a result. Though I can be very turned on by shame, I found this book extremely hot in its shamelessness, and with none of the "oil-slick" feeling that I sometimes get when characters do dirty things and feel bad about it. I call this "bright" because it is like taking a clear, exhilarating drink rather than something that will feel good now and make you sick later.

The book is also bright because its language sparkles. Historical erotic fiction presents a challenge to modern writers. Many books use anachronisms to be explicit or struggle with awkward euphemisms. I'm not a scholar so I can't speak to Roberta's historical accuracy, but I know that she never placed awkward, out-of-place words in Emily's mouth and the metaphors she chose were vibrant and delightful. The book's sexy, good-humored tone reminded me of Boccaccio and Chaucer in all the best ways.

I also appreciate that the characters of The Flight of the Black Swan are in truly uncharted territory—not only on their sea voyage but also with their sexualities. They find their own way and make their own space in a society that seems determined to punish them for doing so. They know the difference between love and lust and aren't afraid of either one. As a result, on top of being sexy, delightful, and fun, the book turns out to be wise, brave, challenging as well.

I read it fast because I couldn't help myself, and then was sad that it was over. I look forward to returning to this world, because I know I will. Highly recommended.

[Rachel Kramer Bussel · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Flight of the Swan, set in England and at sea during the time of the U.S. Civil War, more than lives up to the "bawdy" promise in its title. This is a story constantly in motion, as Emily learns about young love and lesbian sex, only to be parted from her Lucy very early on. She winds up on the Black Swan, a ship full of men who, due to their homosexuality, wouldn't be welcome in the official English Navy ships. There is plenty of subterfuge and secrets that are slowly revealed, and Roberta slyly lets the reader in on both the jokes and the true emotion behind some of these secrets, which include cross-dressing. There is plenty of drama, love scenes and adventure as the ship's crew fight to save themselves and battle for the cause of ending slavery, though their own thoughts on the topic are brought into relief when they encounter a former slave, Mary Ann.

Emily proves quickly able to catch up with what would surely prove shocking to many women of her time, and the scenes where she discovers something new about her own sexuality or the perversions amongst her shipmates are some of the best. This is a fun historical novella that zips along, mocking both social customs of the time and any stuffiness this eccentric crew encounters. Emily manages to fashion a life that's outwardly traditional while being true to herself, and the ways she and the others balance that delicate line of what society expects of them and what they know in their hearts takes this story beyond bawdy. The sexual adventures and discoveries, as well as Emily's take-charge attitude, which is employed throughout the story, make this a feel-good story where those willing to take risks outsmart the stodgy mores of their time.

[Jes Battis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a delightful read. Emily is a smart and sexy heroine, surrounded by intriguing supporting characters. The novella is alive with historical detail, and the battle scenes are nicely paced, with plenty of action. I loved Roberta's exploration of queer subcultures within Victorian England, as well as her treatment of wartime politics. The sex scenes are robust and wildly entertaining. I particularly loved the storytelling chapter near the end, which resembled a frame narrative, like Boccaccio's Decameron. Even the minor characters have something interesting to say, and I have to admit, I think I would enjoy sailing aboard the Black Swan.

[Lisabet Sarai · Rating 4 out of 5]

In her acknowledgments at the commencement of The Flight of the Black Swan, Jean Roberta lists Gilbert and Sullivan operettas as one of the book’s influences. Given her plot that thrives on misdirection and complication, her characters who bear names like Sir Roger Tingly-Jones and Martin Bonnyshanks, and the tendency for her chorus of gay seafarers to burst into spontaneous song, I might have guessed this on my own. William Gilbert could well have penned the libretto for this romp, if not for his Victorian sensibilities. (Anyone who’d like to imagine a William Gilbert homoerotic leanings might enjoy my alternative history tale “Opening Night”, in Connie Wilkin’s collection Time Well Bent.)

Ms. Roberta’s book, aptly subtitled “A bawdy novella”, tells the story of unfortunate Emily, a young woman from a good British family who finds herself far more enthralled by females than males. When her passion for her lovely schoolmate Lucy is thwarted by Lucy’s surrender to destiny as an aristocrat’s wife, Emily desperately seeks opportunities to escape the same fate. Fortune intervenes in the persons of Roger (who happens to be Lucy’s elder brother) and his paramour Martin, who plan to steal a soon-to-be decommissioned British ship and set sail for America with a crew of similar sexual inclinations. Emily agrees to a marriage of convenience with Roger to placate her family, and, fitted out in man’s clothing, embarks upon a new life of freedom on the good ship Black Swan.

I won’t spoil your reading pleasure by giving any more details. I will warn you, though, to set aside any prejudice you might have about sexual exclusivity, either in terms of partners or genders. Emily, Roger, Martin, and the crew turn out to be far more flexible, sexually, then you might expect. As the voyage unfolds, the Black Swan offers sanctuary to a range of gender ambiguity. A jolly and indiscriminate carnality reigns on this ship of outlaws.

Although Ms. Roberta cites some contemporary sources, The Flight of the Black Swan is more fantasy than historical fiction—except in terms of language. Emily’s first person narrative captures the rhythm and vocabulary of Victorian English. Here are the initial sentences:

Almost the worst thing that can happen to a young lady is to be loved by her parents.

Consider it: attentive mothers and fathers do all in their power to protect their daughters from risk and notoriety—in short, from every experience which gives savor to life.

One cannot help sympathizing with this hapless victim of Society, indeed with all the so-called Green Men who constitute the Swan’s crew, whose amorous inclinations are condemned as unnatural, and indeed, illegal.

I have to say a few words about the amazing production design of The Flight of the Black Swan. In this digital era, I’ve become accustomed to books as boring, utilitarian objects where form was irrelevant to content. In contrast, even in PDF format, The Flight of the Black Swan is a thing of beauty. With the ornamental fonts it employs for titles as well as for the instances of hand-written correspondence or verse scattered through the text, and its lively cover that suggests an oil painting, it provides visual as well as intellectual pleasure.

My one criticism of this tale is fairly minor. I would have liked to have heard more about Emily’s kidnapping by pirates during her formative years. She alludes to these events on several occasions, and it’s clear that experience shaped her tastes, but we never get any of the juicy details. Perhaps the author is planning a prequel?

All in all, The Flight of the Black Swan is a delightful volume, quite a departure from Ms. Roberta’s short fiction, which is often hyper-realistic and emotionally intense. Having read it, I have a new appreciation for her versatility—as well as for that of her characters.

[Becky Black · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a time when erotic romance is so respectable your granny is probably reading 50SOG right now, this is written in the style of a good old fashioned dirty book. The type that would be passed around under plain covers. Tons of fun. :D