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Serpents Tail Mrs Gulliver.
It is 1954, and prostitution is legal in the tropical haven that is Verona Island. Here, among gangsters and corrupt lawmen, Lila Gulliver runs a brothel that promises her exclusive clientele privacy and discretion. When nineteen-year-old Carit�, beautiful and blind since birth, comes to her door seeking employment, Mrs Gulliver sees a business opportunity and takes a chance. Carit� is mesmerising, sharp and a mystery to her employer, always holding herself at a distance.
One night, the son of a wealthy judge patronises Mrs Gulliver's establishment, immediately falling madly in love with Carit�. This is Ian Drohan - young, idealistic and cushioned by wealth and family connections. Mrs Gulliver mistrusts him, and worries for Carit�'s future. Carit�, on the other hand, is fearless, headstrong and a force of nature that Mrs Gulliver is always several steps behind.
A dazzling drama filled with sex, wry wit and literary references, Mrs Gulliver follows two women who have nothing to lose in their fight for agency on an island too ready to dismiss them.
One night, the son of a wealthy judge patronises Mrs Gulliver's establishment, immediately falling madly in love with Carit�. This is Ian Drohan - young, idealistic and cushioned by wealth and family connections. Mrs Gulliver mistrusts him, and worries for Carit�'s future. Carit�, on the other hand, is fearless, headstrong and a force of nature that Mrs Gulliver is always several steps behind.
A dazzling drama filled with sex, wry wit and literary references, Mrs Gulliver follows two women who have nothing to lose in their fight for agency on an island too ready to dismiss them.
288 pages, Paperback
First published February 20, 2024
44 people are currently reading
6736 people want to read
About the author
Valerie Martin
63 books256 followersValerie Martin is the author of nine novels, including Trespass, Mary Reilly, Italian Fever, and Property, three collections of short fiction, and a biography of St. Francis of Assisi, titled Salvation. She has been awarded a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts and a John Simon Guggenheim Fellowship, as well as the Kafka Prize (for Mary Reilly) and Britain’s Orange Prize (for Property). Martin’s last novel, The Confessions of Edward Day was a New York Times notable book for 2009.
A new novel The Ghost of the Mary Celeste is due from Nan Talese/Random House in January 2014, and a middle-grade book Anton and Cecil, Cats at Sea, co-written with Valerie’s niece Lisa Martin, will be out from Algonquin in October of 2013.
Valerie Martin has taught in writing programs at Mt. Holyoke College, Univ. of Massachusetts, and Sarah Lawrence College, among others. She resides in Dutchess County, New York and is currently Professor of English at Mt. Holyoke College.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 151 reviews
April 10, 2024
2.5
I accuse the artistic design of the cover for my purchase—it thoroughly arrested me. It doesn't square with it being so genre-like. Valerie Martin is a seasoned author, but if this is the direction her writing has taken, I'm not impressed. The 1954 brothel setting was unconvincing; it was more like a salon or fancy boardinghouse. All the grubby facts of the trade were glossed over or tidied up. The narrator and madam, Lila Gulliver, was stylish, polished, dignified, and vulnerable in all the winsome ways of a manor matriarch.
The main story follows the beautiful, blind prostitute, Carità. Her appeal has a central-casting quality with PG ratings. Too much is scrubbed. Caritá was practically noble, with her aristocratic grace and patrician demeanor. Blindness barely impaired her; she could confidently do most tasks better than the unimpaired and sighted.
Lila Gulliver’s ladies are fetching and charming, intelligent and assured. They banter about economic theory and political philosophy (one of the prostitutes is a college student). Caritá, a facile, fast learner, is rarely caught off-guard and uses words such as “piratical.”
Carità meets Ian Drohan, a college student and scion of an obscenely wealthy family. Chemistry and pheromones ensue, and the pair become star-crossed lovers. Shit happens, and the scion is now a fugitive, yet he’s fixated with rescuing Carità from the secure and family-like brothel, even as dangerous mobsters are after him. If the author meant it as an irony, it was too on the nose.
The plot plodded with a pace and style I’d associate with a debut novelist, not a veteran author. Martin justified, telegraphed, and explained each scene, rather than trusting the reader to imbue the facts with meaning. Moreover, Lila embarks on a rapid romance that was stuffed with coincidence, flimsy and far-fetched, with nothing new to add to the catch-all Cinderella story.
The air is soft-focus and aromatic, performative and predictable, and too enlightened for 1954. I appreciate the author’s imagination--creating a fictitious island in an unidentified country or region where prostitution is legal. But her story was rather feigned and incredulous, failing to authentically illustrate the working classes of the time period.
What is missing are layered, unlikable characters. Villains were too-obvious caricatures or straws, with overtones of YA crossover. It could have been more inspired if Martin had taken some risks or mined some new territory, or at least gave a sheen to tired tropes. It had potential in the opening pages but soon enough fell into cliché.
The oldest profession in this tale has only positive direct effect on an individual or group engaged in it? Just seems dishonest, sit-com-y without the laughs. Too pat, when the working girl with previously zero resources now has more resources than the cultivated and wealthy patron.
I had different expectations, less Disney and more Indie. It was hokey but entertaining--warm-hearted and sweet, pure escapism, an idealistic tale of indomitable valor, the women of little means unimpeded by their oppression.
I accuse the artistic design of the cover for my purchase—it thoroughly arrested me. It doesn't square with it being so genre-like. Valerie Martin is a seasoned author, but if this is the direction her writing has taken, I'm not impressed. The 1954 brothel setting was unconvincing; it was more like a salon or fancy boardinghouse. All the grubby facts of the trade were glossed over or tidied up. The narrator and madam, Lila Gulliver, was stylish, polished, dignified, and vulnerable in all the winsome ways of a manor matriarch.
The main story follows the beautiful, blind prostitute, Carità. Her appeal has a central-casting quality with PG ratings. Too much is scrubbed. Caritá was practically noble, with her aristocratic grace and patrician demeanor. Blindness barely impaired her; she could confidently do most tasks better than the unimpaired and sighted.
Lila Gulliver’s ladies are fetching and charming, intelligent and assured. They banter about economic theory and political philosophy (one of the prostitutes is a college student). Caritá, a facile, fast learner, is rarely caught off-guard and uses words such as “piratical.”
Carità meets Ian Drohan, a college student and scion of an obscenely wealthy family. Chemistry and pheromones ensue, and the pair become star-crossed lovers. Shit happens, and the scion is now a fugitive, yet he’s fixated with rescuing Carità from the secure and family-like brothel, even as dangerous mobsters are after him. If the author meant it as an irony, it was too on the nose.
The plot plodded with a pace and style I’d associate with a debut novelist, not a veteran author. Martin justified, telegraphed, and explained each scene, rather than trusting the reader to imbue the facts with meaning. Moreover, Lila embarks on a rapid romance that was stuffed with coincidence, flimsy and far-fetched, with nothing new to add to the catch-all Cinderella story.
The air is soft-focus and aromatic, performative and predictable, and too enlightened for 1954. I appreciate the author’s imagination--creating a fictitious island in an unidentified country or region where prostitution is legal. But her story was rather feigned and incredulous, failing to authentically illustrate the working classes of the time period.
What is missing are layered, unlikable characters. Villains were too-obvious caricatures or straws, with overtones of YA crossover. It could have been more inspired if Martin had taken some risks or mined some new territory, or at least gave a sheen to tired tropes. It had potential in the opening pages but soon enough fell into cliché.
The oldest profession in this tale has only positive direct effect on an individual or group engaged in it? Just seems dishonest, sit-com-y without the laughs. Too pat, when the working girl with previously zero resources now has more resources than the cultivated and wealthy patron.
I had different expectations, less Disney and more Indie. It was hokey but entertaining--warm-hearted and sweet, pure escapism, an idealistic tale of indomitable valor, the women of little means unimpeded by their oppression.
February 27, 2024
Too sketchy to be historical fiction, too pedestrian to be literary fiction, too prosaic to be romance.
With uninteresting characters (which is saying something, considering most of it is set in a brothel), no antagonist, unconvincing motivations, no real emotion, and underdeveloped/late-presenting feminist and other themes, this is a miss on all levels. And the shifting focus to countless unsexy, token sex scenes once a guy comes into the picture both weirded me out and bored me.
I've also read a ton of books written in the 50s and this doesn't feel very "period." Such a strangely uninteresting little book.
With uninteresting characters (which is saying something, considering most of it is set in a brothel), no antagonist, unconvincing motivations, no real emotion, and underdeveloped/late-presenting feminist and other themes, this is a miss on all levels. And the shifting focus to countless unsexy, token sex scenes once a guy comes into the picture both weirded me out and bored me.
I've also read a ton of books written in the 50s and this doesn't feel very "period." Such a strangely uninteresting little book.
January 31, 2024
A most unusual but equally really enjoyable read. The writing is fast and furious and it is impossible at times to put the book down :) Lila Gulliver is the Madam of a brothel on the tropical island of Verona. She is a bright business woman not only managing her staff but also looking after their welfare, and this in return creates a sense of loyalty. A young attractive lady impresses Lila, and even though Carita is blind she is employed, and very quickly proves her worth to the business. However life soon gets very complex when Carita falls in love with Ian Brohan son of judge Michael Brolan…….” a dashing, fine figure of a man, confident in the power of his physical presence”......
It would be wrong to believe that clients visiting Madam Gullivers are dictating, and demanding, being wealthy does not mean that they have a right to humiliate, use, and discard the young ladies on offer. What makes this such a brilliant book is the way the author shows the reader that in reality it is the women working for, and with, and including, Lila Gulliver who dictate the shape and direction of their lives….”Men are expected to succeed, women to fail. Every woman knows the deck is stacked. In practical terms this makes it more difficult for women to succeed, but it’s more damning for men to fail. Win or lose, defying expectations is heavy going”........
This is storytelling at its best, set in the early 1950’s it brings to life the sights and sounds of a tropical island. Lila Gulliver holds the reader in awe with her beauty, and smart business acumen looking after and guiding those girls who she feels have entrusted their lives to her. Highly recommended.
It would be wrong to believe that clients visiting Madam Gullivers are dictating, and demanding, being wealthy does not mean that they have a right to humiliate, use, and discard the young ladies on offer. What makes this such a brilliant book is the way the author shows the reader that in reality it is the women working for, and with, and including, Lila Gulliver who dictate the shape and direction of their lives….”Men are expected to succeed, women to fail. Every woman knows the deck is stacked. In practical terms this makes it more difficult for women to succeed, but it’s more damning for men to fail. Win or lose, defying expectations is heavy going”........
This is storytelling at its best, set in the early 1950’s it brings to life the sights and sounds of a tropical island. Lila Gulliver holds the reader in awe with her beauty, and smart business acumen looking after and guiding those girls who she feels have entrusted their lives to her. Highly recommended.
Read
July 7, 2025This novel is told from the viewpoint of Mrs. Gulliver. Is that her real name? Was she ever married? She likes to keep her personal details ambiguous. She’s not stranded on a Lilliput, but she is on an island. The fictional setting of Verona Island feels almost otherworldly (Prospero’s island in The Tempest?), seemingly multicultural, though race/ethnicity is never mentioned.
The “mainland” is somewhere off in the distance and the people who come from there (mostly tourists) are said to be not like the islanders. The time is specific: 1954. Young women go to college, though most of their choices are limited, including those working at Mrs. Gulliver’s (legal) brothel. Martin empowers her women within these structures while pointing out that they (unfairly) still need the protection of men.
The Romeo-and-Juliet parallels are overt, but I also detected “Juliet” resembling Portia from Merchant of Venice. She’s not impersonating a lawyer, but she is focused on her goal during a quasi-trial that happens off-stage. Despite the use of first-person throughout, several times a story that happened off-stage (another Shakespearean trait) is prefaced by Mrs. Gulliver saying something like, “This is the story [person’s name] told me.” The story is then related as if the other person is saying it.
I knew Martin’s longtime partner had recently died and I detected a homage to him in the ending. The acknowledgments confirmed that.
The “mainland” is somewhere off in the distance and the people who come from there (mostly tourists) are said to be not like the islanders. The time is specific: 1954. Young women go to college, though most of their choices are limited, including those working at Mrs. Gulliver’s (legal) brothel. Martin empowers her women within these structures while pointing out that they (unfairly) still need the protection of men.
The Romeo-and-Juliet parallels are overt, but I also detected “Juliet” resembling Portia from Merchant of Venice. She’s not impersonating a lawyer, but she is focused on her goal during a quasi-trial that happens off-stage. Despite the use of first-person throughout, several times a story that happened off-stage (another Shakespearean trait) is prefaced by Mrs. Gulliver saying something like, “This is the story [person’s name] told me.” The story is then related as if the other person is saying it.
I knew Martin’s longtime partner had recently died and I detected a homage to him in the ending. The acknowledgments confirmed that.
February 20, 2024
Lila Gulliver, who was raised in poverty and spent her adolescence in a seedy brothel, owns and operates a discrete bordello whose clients are professionals and, because her city is wrapped around a port, seagoing men, but “officers only.” Mrs. Gulliver is a generous boss who treats her employees with respect and dignity. The bad weather and blight have ravaged the economy of fictional Verona Island and several of the prettier daughters of rice farmers have shown up at Mrs. Gulliver’s door. One such girl is Carità Bercy, a young, destitute, and beautiful blind woman who was raised with her sister in comfort by a bachelor uncle who committed suicide when his rice crops failed and the bank foreclosed on his property. Mrs. Gulliver decides to give the proud and determined Carita a chance.
Carita proves to be an asset to the house. She quickly attracts the attention of Ian Drohan, a handsome young man and the son of the most powerful family on the island. Ian is determined to “save” Carita and they impulsively elope. But, Ian has become mixed up with some local gangsters, and the star-crossed lovers are on the run. On their trail is Mrs. Gulliver and Ian’s father, Mike Drohan, who end up having a passionate affair.
The novel was initially charming — the descriptions of the tropical paradise with its fragile economy and the backstories of the woman who worked for Mrs. Gulliver — are engaging. Carita, too, is difficult to resist, and we learn that she has ambitions that exceed marriage to the scion of a wealthy man. But, the book loses steam when the focus is on Mrs. Gulliver and her affair with Drohan. Martin does not address issues like agency or victimization but, rather, writes of passion in phrases more befitting a romance novel. Thank you Doubleday and Net Galley for providing me with an advance copy of this playful novel.
Carita proves to be an asset to the house. She quickly attracts the attention of Ian Drohan, a handsome young man and the son of the most powerful family on the island. Ian is determined to “save” Carita and they impulsively elope. But, Ian has become mixed up with some local gangsters, and the star-crossed lovers are on the run. On their trail is Mrs. Gulliver and Ian’s father, Mike Drohan, who end up having a passionate affair.
The novel was initially charming — the descriptions of the tropical paradise with its fragile economy and the backstories of the woman who worked for Mrs. Gulliver — are engaging. Carita, too, is difficult to resist, and we learn that she has ambitions that exceed marriage to the scion of a wealthy man. But, the book loses steam when the focus is on Mrs. Gulliver and her affair with Drohan. Martin does not address issues like agency or victimization but, rather, writes of passion in phrases more befitting a romance novel. Thank you Doubleday and Net Galley for providing me with an advance copy of this playful novel.
February 8, 2024
3.75 stars
netgalley arc
really enjoyed the first 60-70% of this but did feel it lost steam towards the end. valerie martin has definitely done a good job painting the characters of mrs gulliver and her staff and this is undeniably well written. interesting concept of how sex work is viewed even by those working in the field and when it is legal - it did feel a bit misogynistic at times particularly with how sometimes it felt like carita was depicted as just a cunning money grabber.
netgalley arc
really enjoyed the first 60-70% of this but did feel it lost steam towards the end. valerie martin has definitely done a good job painting the characters of mrs gulliver and her staff and this is undeniably well written. interesting concept of how sex work is viewed even by those working in the field and when it is legal - it did feel a bit misogynistic at times particularly with how sometimes it felt like carita was depicted as just a cunning money grabber.
April 10, 2024
I kept waiting on a climax, no pun intended, that never came.
March 8, 2024
Mrs Gulliver is a quirky, saucy little slice of life novel published yesterday by American author Valerie Martin who won the Orange Prize (now Women’s Prize) for her novel Property back in 2003. It’s loosely inspired by Romeo and Juliet - I wouldn’t go so far as to call it a retelling, more an offbeat feminist reworking with thematic overlaps.
Mrs Gulliver is set on the tropical island of Verona, whose location isn’t revealed (my best guess is somewhere in the Mediterranean?). It’s the 1950s, prostitution is legal on Verona and the eponymous Mrs Gulliver runs a successful brothel.
When blind girl Carità arrives at her doorstep seeking employment, Mrs Gulliver takes a chance on her but things get very complicated when the gutsy, shrewd Carità falls in love with one of her clients, Ian Drohan, the son of a judge and heir of one of the wealthiest families on the island. Ian is a moralistic young man whose sees as his divine purpose to “rescue” Carità but who can’t seem to keep his nose clean.
There was a lot to like in this book: the writing is lovely, the story is gently intriguing and very funny at times and the characters are fully-formed. It felt quite French?
There is something that didn’t quite gel in the book and I found it hard to put my finger on just what that was. The author doesn’t really pull off the 1950s setting and it’s perhaps just a little pedestrian at times, neither of which really hampered my enjoyment however.
A pleasant romp for fans of quirky books with a vintage feel that don’t take themselves too seriously (think The Book of Goose or Small Pleasures or a Valerie Perrin novel). 3.5/5 ⭐️
*Many thanks to publisher Serpent’s Tail for the arc via @netgalley. Mrs Gulliver was published on 7 March. As always this is an honest review.
Mrs Gulliver is set on the tropical island of Verona, whose location isn’t revealed (my best guess is somewhere in the Mediterranean?). It’s the 1950s, prostitution is legal on Verona and the eponymous Mrs Gulliver runs a successful brothel.
When blind girl Carità arrives at her doorstep seeking employment, Mrs Gulliver takes a chance on her but things get very complicated when the gutsy, shrewd Carità falls in love with one of her clients, Ian Drohan, the son of a judge and heir of one of the wealthiest families on the island. Ian is a moralistic young man whose sees as his divine purpose to “rescue” Carità but who can’t seem to keep his nose clean.
There was a lot to like in this book: the writing is lovely, the story is gently intriguing and very funny at times and the characters are fully-formed. It felt quite French?
There is something that didn’t quite gel in the book and I found it hard to put my finger on just what that was. The author doesn’t really pull off the 1950s setting and it’s perhaps just a little pedestrian at times, neither of which really hampered my enjoyment however.
A pleasant romp for fans of quirky books with a vintage feel that don’t take themselves too seriously (think The Book of Goose or Small Pleasures or a Valerie Perrin novel). 3.5/5 ⭐️
*Many thanks to publisher Serpent’s Tail for the arc via @netgalley. Mrs Gulliver was published on 7 March. As always this is an honest review.
June 21, 2024
This book was a bit ho-hum. It had the makings of a really interesting story, but it never really landed. The characters were a bit cliched, and some potential and interesting storyline’s were not fully developed.
Even though things did happen, I finished it feeling like not much had really happened and the characters had not travelled that far. I think part of it was that the characters pretty much followed expected stereotypes and where they did not, it was in all the ways that would be expected. There were no ‘a-ha’ moments in this book that you see with good books.
So it was not bad, it just did not sparkle for me.
Even though things did happen, I finished it feeling like not much had really happened and the characters had not travelled that far. I think part of it was that the characters pretty much followed expected stereotypes and where they did not, it was in all the ways that would be expected. There were no ‘a-ha’ moments in this book that you see with good books.
So it was not bad, it just did not sparkle for me.
March 11, 2024
A breath of fresh air; engaging story with character driven narrative that is pure escapism and a delightful read.
“It is 1954, and prostitution is legal in the tropical haven that is Verona Island.”
I just loved the sense of time and place. It is beautifully written, capturing a period when times were different.
Poverty was real and had dire consequences. The Church still had some influence and women were still dependent on a good marriage or being born into wealth.
This is a fascinating story around the struggle of one woman, Mrs Gulliver, who was forced into a life of prostitution and rose to run her own successful brothel.
Issues around the women who work in this environment is addressed and those who ‘exploit’ them is touched upon.
But this is a high-end establishment in contrast to the sex-trafficking and underaged sex workers employed in lower end joints down in the port.
Yet Mrs Gulliver has to face-up to her own role when a young destitute blind girl turns up looking for a work and a roof over her head. But in offering her a safe and secure environment is she equally guilty as the men in her life who had abused her as a child.
This sense of taking advantage and exploiting her girls is confronted again with Mrs Gulliver when a young idealistic student believes he can save the blind girl from a life of prostitution.
The subject of Carità’s blindness is beautifully dealt with in this novel. Her independence and strong character drive the story alongside Mrs Gulliver’s powerful and insightful narration.
The lack of one sense seems to enable the author to describe and enhance the colours, smells, and rich sounds in the story. There is also wit and intelligent conversation throughout enhancing this novel.
Despite the location, the sex is never graphic or glorified. Indeed the value of the women is never diminished; their hardships are not passed over - an abusive uncle, a violent customer and the dangers of unwanted pregnancies are treated with humanity and respect.
This is a book about life and survival. Making the best of one’s circumstances and grabbing opportunities where you can regain control of your life.
The female characters are wonderfully drawn and in the complicated relationship portrayed here are the one’s that remain with you at the end of the book.
It is a compelling book that fully draws you into these pages. A story where you care about what happens and lose yourself briefly in this imagined world.
But for the advanced readers copy I was afforded by NetGalley this is a title that would have passed me by. That would have been my loss as I have not enjoyed a book as much as Mrs Gulliver in a long time.
“It is 1954, and prostitution is legal in the tropical haven that is Verona Island.”
I just loved the sense of time and place. It is beautifully written, capturing a period when times were different.
Poverty was real and had dire consequences. The Church still had some influence and women were still dependent on a good marriage or being born into wealth.
This is a fascinating story around the struggle of one woman, Mrs Gulliver, who was forced into a life of prostitution and rose to run her own successful brothel.
Issues around the women who work in this environment is addressed and those who ‘exploit’ them is touched upon.
But this is a high-end establishment in contrast to the sex-trafficking and underaged sex workers employed in lower end joints down in the port.
Yet Mrs Gulliver has to face-up to her own role when a young destitute blind girl turns up looking for a work and a roof over her head. But in offering her a safe and secure environment is she equally guilty as the men in her life who had abused her as a child.
This sense of taking advantage and exploiting her girls is confronted again with Mrs Gulliver when a young idealistic student believes he can save the blind girl from a life of prostitution.
The subject of Carità’s blindness is beautifully dealt with in this novel. Her independence and strong character drive the story alongside Mrs Gulliver’s powerful and insightful narration.
The lack of one sense seems to enable the author to describe and enhance the colours, smells, and rich sounds in the story. There is also wit and intelligent conversation throughout enhancing this novel.
Despite the location, the sex is never graphic or glorified. Indeed the value of the women is never diminished; their hardships are not passed over - an abusive uncle, a violent customer and the dangers of unwanted pregnancies are treated with humanity and respect.
This is a book about life and survival. Making the best of one’s circumstances and grabbing opportunities where you can regain control of your life.
The female characters are wonderfully drawn and in the complicated relationship portrayed here are the one’s that remain with you at the end of the book.
It is a compelling book that fully draws you into these pages. A story where you care about what happens and lose yourself briefly in this imagined world.
But for the advanced readers copy I was afforded by NetGalley this is a title that would have passed me by. That would have been my loss as I have not enjoyed a book as much as Mrs Gulliver in a long time.
March 15, 2024
Time for a review for one of my latest five star reads, which was this total gem of a novel! I can’t get over how much I loved this one - it was one of the first books in a while which I truly couldn’t put down, which doesn’t usually happen with literary reads!
I can’t put my finger on what it was exactly about it that I loved so much - probably a combination of captivating, clever female characters, an intriguing plot, masterful storytelling and great writing! At times it almost felt a bit comic with the madness of everything going on, as it delves into the crime landscape too, but that’s what made it such a fun and addictive novel.
But mostly, I really did love Mrs Gulliver and Caritá, these wise and wonderful women who knew what they wanted and did what they needed to get it - it didn’t feel like a seedy brothel situation, but rather an empowering one where the women truly look out for each other and are quietly outsmarting the men around them. Honestly, it’s just fantastic and I felt a bit gutted when it was finished!
I can’t put my finger on what it was exactly about it that I loved so much - probably a combination of captivating, clever female characters, an intriguing plot, masterful storytelling and great writing! At times it almost felt a bit comic with the madness of everything going on, as it delves into the crime landscape too, but that’s what made it such a fun and addictive novel.
But mostly, I really did love Mrs Gulliver and Caritá, these wise and wonderful women who knew what they wanted and did what they needed to get it - it didn’t feel like a seedy brothel situation, but rather an empowering one where the women truly look out for each other and are quietly outsmarting the men around them. Honestly, it’s just fantastic and I felt a bit gutted when it was finished!
November 23, 2023
Mrs. Gulliver (2024)
By Valerie Martin
Doubleday, 304 pages.
★★★
Mrs. Gulliver is the newnovel from Valerie Martin, a writer I enjoy. I'm not sure how this one will be received, though strict Freudians could have a field day with it. More on that momentarily, but it should be noted that this is a fun read though its literary merits might be considered suspect.
It takes place in 1954 on the fictional island of Verona. Contextual clues suggest a Caribbean location but pinpointing which one requires finding a place that, in 1954, had a sizeable English-speaking population, lawful prostitution, and legal or tacitly accepted bordellos. In the unusual morality of the day, many Caribbean islands allowed prostitution but outlawed brothels. The reasoning was that the employer/employee sex for hire industry exploited sex workers.
Martin developed some intriguing characters, though whether you find them noble, exploited, or self-deceived depends upon your personal moral code. Lila Gulliver is an assumed name, though few know that or realize that her assumed surname is packed with metaphorical significance. Lila runs a high-class establishment where much of Verona's (semi-) respectable citizens gather to drink and enjoy the world's oldest profession. Layla takes care of her “girls,” pays them well, and employs Brutus to protect the women who work there. One of the ladies of the evening is married and another is a college student. Each holds strong views about the lives they wish to live. Layla’s clientele is on an invitation and referral basis only. If someone gets out of hand, he and the person who referring are barred.
One day, two sisters show up, Bessie and Carità Bercy. They have fallen upon hard times because their uncle squandered the family money and then killed himself. Bessie has secured a job shucking oysters, but that won't work for Carità, who is blind. If you were Lila, would you send a 19 year-old blind woman to the boudoir? Carità presents as a person of poise and breeding, but insists she relishes the idea of sex with strangers. She soon takes her place among the others in the house and each of them adore her, including Lila. Carità is remarkably self-sufficient.
Lila sees herself as a businesswoman. Among her daily tasks is staying on the good side of both respectable society like Judge Mike Drohan and gentlemen gangsters such as Marcus Betone. The latter isn’t easy because Marcus’ son Ben is a bit of a lout. One night he shows up with his college buddy Ian in tow. Ian continues to come though he doesn’t partake of fleshly delights–until he meets Carità. Then things get interesting, but not in comfortable ways.
Ian is pampered, idealistic, and moralistic, though we might also say he thinks with his penis. He expressed interest in “rescuing” Carità by marrying her and taking her away from what he sees as an immoral lifestyle. Carità is pretty sure she doesn’t need a rescue, but she does marry Ian. This brings Lila and Mike together and when the young couple depart for parts unknown, Mike wants to find them. This venture will lead Lila to abandon her self-imposed celibate life. Never mind that Mike is married! Lia knows she should walk away, but the sex!!!
This is where the ground of Martin's novel grows boggy. On one level all the female characters are strong in ways that seem too feminist for 1954. Yet on another level, sex seems to drive motives to the point where it feels as though the novel should be subtitled Sigmund Freud Unbound. I hasten to say that I am not shocked by the topic, but like the novel's feminist ideals, Martin's views of free love seem anachronistic. I wonder, however, if the very mix of feminism and love-the-one-you’re-with will displease some readers. At the very least, it causes a few structural problems. Mrs. Gulliver is often neither fish nor fowl–not sexy enough to be a bodice ripper, but not assertive enough to be fully feminist.
For me, Carità is a fascinating character. Martin leaves the bedroom doors cracked just enough that we're never sure if she's weighing her options, madly in love with Ian, grifting, or simply coming into full adulthood. She's a keystone for a novel in which almost everyone is playing a role that is less than the sum of who they are.
Rob Weir
By Valerie Martin
Doubleday, 304 pages.
★★★
Mrs. Gulliver is the newnovel from Valerie Martin, a writer I enjoy. I'm not sure how this one will be received, though strict Freudians could have a field day with it. More on that momentarily, but it should be noted that this is a fun read though its literary merits might be considered suspect.
It takes place in 1954 on the fictional island of Verona. Contextual clues suggest a Caribbean location but pinpointing which one requires finding a place that, in 1954, had a sizeable English-speaking population, lawful prostitution, and legal or tacitly accepted bordellos. In the unusual morality of the day, many Caribbean islands allowed prostitution but outlawed brothels. The reasoning was that the employer/employee sex for hire industry exploited sex workers.
Martin developed some intriguing characters, though whether you find them noble, exploited, or self-deceived depends upon your personal moral code. Lila Gulliver is an assumed name, though few know that or realize that her assumed surname is packed with metaphorical significance. Lila runs a high-class establishment where much of Verona's (semi-) respectable citizens gather to drink and enjoy the world's oldest profession. Layla takes care of her “girls,” pays them well, and employs Brutus to protect the women who work there. One of the ladies of the evening is married and another is a college student. Each holds strong views about the lives they wish to live. Layla’s clientele is on an invitation and referral basis only. If someone gets out of hand, he and the person who referring are barred.
One day, two sisters show up, Bessie and Carità Bercy. They have fallen upon hard times because their uncle squandered the family money and then killed himself. Bessie has secured a job shucking oysters, but that won't work for Carità, who is blind. If you were Lila, would you send a 19 year-old blind woman to the boudoir? Carità presents as a person of poise and breeding, but insists she relishes the idea of sex with strangers. She soon takes her place among the others in the house and each of them adore her, including Lila. Carità is remarkably self-sufficient.
Lila sees herself as a businesswoman. Among her daily tasks is staying on the good side of both respectable society like Judge Mike Drohan and gentlemen gangsters such as Marcus Betone. The latter isn’t easy because Marcus’ son Ben is a bit of a lout. One night he shows up with his college buddy Ian in tow. Ian continues to come though he doesn’t partake of fleshly delights–until he meets Carità. Then things get interesting, but not in comfortable ways.
Ian is pampered, idealistic, and moralistic, though we might also say he thinks with his penis. He expressed interest in “rescuing” Carità by marrying her and taking her away from what he sees as an immoral lifestyle. Carità is pretty sure she doesn’t need a rescue, but she does marry Ian. This brings Lila and Mike together and when the young couple depart for parts unknown, Mike wants to find them. This venture will lead Lila to abandon her self-imposed celibate life. Never mind that Mike is married! Lia knows she should walk away, but the sex!!!
This is where the ground of Martin's novel grows boggy. On one level all the female characters are strong in ways that seem too feminist for 1954. Yet on another level, sex seems to drive motives to the point where it feels as though the novel should be subtitled Sigmund Freud Unbound. I hasten to say that I am not shocked by the topic, but like the novel's feminist ideals, Martin's views of free love seem anachronistic. I wonder, however, if the very mix of feminism and love-the-one-you’re-with will displease some readers. At the very least, it causes a few structural problems. Mrs. Gulliver is often neither fish nor fowl–not sexy enough to be a bodice ripper, but not assertive enough to be fully feminist.
For me, Carità is a fascinating character. Martin leaves the bedroom doors cracked just enough that we're never sure if she's weighing her options, madly in love with Ian, grifting, or simply coming into full adulthood. She's a keystone for a novel in which almost everyone is playing a role that is less than the sum of who they are.
Rob Weir
June 30, 2024
I was initially drawn in to this book with the exotic island setting and the more unusual setting of the brothel, and the first few 'chapters' moved at a decent pace. Unfortunately, around the 40% mark, the book slowed considerably and, admittedly, I lost interest.
I thought the plot was weak, and there wasn't enough story to hold my attention. The characters were flat and I found one relationship to be rather unbelievable, especially the pace at which it moved. I thought it seemed quite an implausible thing to do considering who the character was. I felt one of the conflicts was resolved far too quickly. I also didn't respond to the author's writing style. There was a bit too much focus on the minutiae of the main character's day, and it made the book drag. Some of the writing also felt a bit clunky, and there was a bit too much explaining rather than showing when it comes to plot development.
I thought the plot was weak, and there wasn't enough story to hold my attention. The characters were flat and I found one relationship to be rather unbelievable, especially the pace at which it moved. I thought it seemed quite an implausible thing to do considering who the character was. I felt one of the conflicts was resolved far too quickly. I also didn't respond to the author's writing style. There was a bit too much focus on the minutiae of the main character's day, and it made the book drag. Some of the writing also felt a bit clunky, and there was a bit too much explaining rather than showing when it comes to plot development.
dnf
March 25, 2024the blurb promised me an adventure or at the very least, some excitement but the story couldn’t have been more of a bore. i went from flying through the first 1/3 of the book to being stuck with the realization that this wasn’t very interesting. the setup was there but the overwhelming emptiness was too much to handle. i had to give up on this one.
February 26, 2024
I read, and loved, Martin's book I Give it to You last year, so, when I saw she had a new book coming out, I requested it on NetGalley. I saw that it was set in Verona, and, because her previous book was set in Italy, I assumed the same here. (Note: I am terrible with Geography, so I didn't look at a map to see that Verona, Italy, is basically landlocked, and this Verona is clearly described in the summary as a tropical island...) No matter, the author would just like you to keep those star-crossed lovers in mind while you read the story.
I do disagree with this book being tagged as Historical Fiction—as far as I could tell, there is nothing here tied to any events in history. Of course I know there are plenty of books billed as historical fiction that reflect only a slight sliver of history, but for some reason I felt a bit duped by this. I would have classified the novel as Romance; just a heads up for the more hardcore historical fiction fans.
Regardless of classifications, Martin tells a fast-paced, compelling story with a terrific bunch of characters, flaws and all. Setting a novel in a (legal) brothel can require some challenging conversations, and I think that Martin addressed this fairly, without devolving into any kind of moralistic rant. Sure, it was idealistic, but I am reading for a break from politics right now, so this is a welcome change. Martin offers up a few salient points on the "oldest institution", but she also offers up a terrific story that, unlike my news feed, won't keep me from getting a good night's sleep.
I do disagree with this book being tagged as Historical Fiction—as far as I could tell, there is nothing here tied to any events in history. Of course I know there are plenty of books billed as historical fiction that reflect only a slight sliver of history, but for some reason I felt a bit duped by this. I would have classified the novel as Romance; just a heads up for the more hardcore historical fiction fans.
Regardless of classifications, Martin tells a fast-paced, compelling story with a terrific bunch of characters, flaws and all. Setting a novel in a (legal) brothel can require some challenging conversations, and I think that Martin addressed this fairly, without devolving into any kind of moralistic rant. Sure, it was idealistic, but I am reading for a break from politics right now, so this is a welcome change. Martin offers up a few salient points on the "oldest institution", but she also offers up a terrific story that, unlike my news feed, won't keep me from getting a good night's sleep.
April 11, 2025
In 1954 on the remote Verona Island, Lila Gulliver runs a respected high-end brothel amid a struggling economy and rising crime. When Carità, a beautiful and blind young woman, arrives seeking work, Lila takes her in. Carità quickly proves valuable but also mysterious. When Ian Drohan, heir to the island’s wealthiest family, falls for Carità, Lila grows concerned for her. But Carità is far from naive—she's bold, ambitious, and determined to forge her own path, no matter the cost.
This one hooked me right off...I mean a blind prostitute...color me intrigued, however it quickly lost steam. Everything felt a bit cliche and predictable. By the end of the book I didn't really care what happened and it didn't really make sense to me the lengths that Lila was going to for Carita after only knowing her for a little bit of time.
This one hooked me right off...I mean a blind prostitute...color me intrigued, however it quickly lost steam. Everything felt a bit cliche and predictable. By the end of the book I didn't really care what happened and it didn't really make sense to me the lengths that Lila was going to for Carita after only knowing her for a little bit of time.
August 10, 2024
DNF @ >50%
the obvious argument/message Martin has endeavoured to convey through this novel was unconvincing to say the least, despite the blurb on the back that advocated for the opposite.
the premise was interesting and in spite of sensing a “values-disconnect” upon reading it, i pushed through a dull plot that continually told instead of showed in the spirit of open-mindedness, in the pursuit of a convincing argument that could potentially challenge my ideas about sex work and prostitution - because that’s what fiction is about, no?
i expected more from Martin, who is not only an older woman but an experienced writer, as other reviewers have expressed here. this was disappointing and boring - maybe the style of writing would appeal to my 13 year old self more.
the obvious argument/message Martin has endeavoured to convey through this novel was unconvincing to say the least, despite the blurb on the back that advocated for the opposite.
the premise was interesting and in spite of sensing a “values-disconnect” upon reading it, i pushed through a dull plot that continually told instead of showed in the spirit of open-mindedness, in the pursuit of a convincing argument that could potentially challenge my ideas about sex work and prostitution - because that’s what fiction is about, no?
i expected more from Martin, who is not only an older woman but an experienced writer, as other reviewers have expressed here. this was disappointing and boring - maybe the style of writing would appeal to my 13 year old self more.
April 14, 2024
ooop
YES, I did read it in a day and I have to say this proves how good my book picking skills are
big rec for anybody wanting a good, almost comfortable slice of life, beautifully written and execute
for some reason I really loved the part at the beginning when carità meets brutus and how lila teases he fell for her (like a tree ahahah)
also, what a lovely 50th read of this year
YES, I did read it in a day and I have to say this proves how good my book picking skills are
big rec for anybody wanting a good, almost comfortable slice of life, beautifully written and execute
for some reason I really loved the part at the beginning when carità meets brutus and how lila teases he fell for her (like a tree ahahah)
also, what a lovely 50th read of this year
July 7, 2024
I enjoyed this book! Most of the characters were well fleshed out and have unique personalities. A fun quirky read.
April 18, 2025
A high 3 stars approaching 4. There is something magnetic about the prose, even if the plot didn’t always feel inspired. Still, it was never boring, and I quite liked spending time with these characters in this sleepy nebulous island. All in all would recommend!
March 12, 2024
3.5 ⭐️ Review to follow.
August 10, 2025
Not bad in the sense of bad writing or plot. Well, actually, what is the plot here? This the almost idyllic fictionalization of life in a brothel almost made me want to become a prostitute myself!
March 3, 2024
Sometimes you stumble on a book and its author and it calls to you for a reason that is difficult to explain in words. I started the story and felt immediately dropped into an old film from the 1950s on an island where prostitution may be legal but women are not revered, protected, or respected. But Mrs. Gulliver is different or tries very hard to be, when an enigmatic young blind woman comes searching for safety and stability. An escapist story with gorgeous writing and fabulous characters.
May 27, 2024
Not at all what I was expecting and quietly compelling.
November 18, 2024
This book sucked. I mean SUCKED. I had high hopes, as the back cover had so many glowing reviews from respected sources. Well I guess they didn’t read this one.
The basic plot is that Mrs Gulliver leads this super posh, sophisticated brothel and she hires a beautiful blind woman named Carità to work for her. Carità falls in love and has an impulse wedding with the son of the richest man (Ian) on the island but a drug deal turns and he is forced to go into hiding in a small fishing town. Here, Ian has a fishing accident which causes him to have a come-to-Jesus moment about being rich and then basically goes crazy. Meanwhile, Carità wants to go to college and Lila Gulliver has the most unrealistic romance ever with Ian’s dad, Mike.
The first thing that got me was the totally misleading of the jacket, which promised that the two main characters, the Madame of a successful legal prostitution house (Lila Gulliver) and a blind prostitute she hires (Carità), would have life changing impacts on each other. They did not. I’ll tell you what happened. Carità came to work, stayed for about 10 pages then met a boy who she manipulated into marrying her so she could have his money. Oh and Lila falls in love with his dad. No lasting impacts happened, that were outside of the ordinary. Carità seemed totally replaceable except for the fact that she was blind. The interactions between Carità and Lila are stilted at best. They have no true relationship beside what the author is telling you, which made for a bland book.
My main issue was the telling. My god it was like having to read a long text from your friend about a run in with their ex that changed their life when really they said hi in the grocery store. No substance in the writing, no character development and purely plot driven. I love a good plot driven book. WHEN ADVERTISED AS SUCH. The plot was so annoying it was literally told two ways: a character telling another character what happened over food in the breakfast room or the action happening to Lila and her telling you what happened then saying stupid shit like “I miss Carità”.
I also had an issue with the timing of the book. I had no clue whether stuff was happening the next day or weeks in advance. This made for a much weaker plot as the writer only wrote about action sequences, back to back to back. Also, it seemed like Carità only worked there for like a month before she got married, so how attached could she be?
Furthermore every character sucked.
Carità: She has no character arch. All of her traits were thrown at her randomly when the author needed a plot point. She was so basic and we saw nothing from her. All the other characters had ZERO character development. They had traits randomly assigned to them to fit the stupid plot.
Lila Gulliver: possibly the person with the biggest savior complex ever. The only reason she seems attached to Carità is because she is blind and worried about her bc she is so so weak. Girl just married the richest man on the island, she’ll be fine. And before you say it’s because she’s so caring, she mentioned having one worker in a toxic relationship and oh well! Also she is SO GREAT because one of her workers goes to school. This woman is insufferable. Her chasing Carità around the whole book is so pathetic. Lila is a horrible storyteller, should have been told from Carità’s perspective.
The plot: sucked! So much happened yet it was so stupid. It felt like a Disney movie where the writers run out of stuff to pitch. Nothing made sense for the characters and there were so MANY like god.
The ending: the ending was one big long summary, like the entire book but with a much quicker pace. Lila has a brief moment of contemplation where she wonders if she is exploiting her workers and Carità but quickly recovers and it turns out hunky-dory. The moment where she quickly glosses over the exploitation and the potential morality issues with prostitution, the author doesn’t even dwell on it. I was disappointed that this only showed up in the end.The ending was perfect because it was exactly what I expected. An ending that did as much as the book did, which was nothing. Unless you like a long ramble with inconsistent characters.
The basic plot is that Mrs Gulliver leads this super posh, sophisticated brothel and she hires a beautiful blind woman named Carità to work for her. Carità falls in love and has an impulse wedding with the son of the richest man (Ian) on the island but a drug deal turns and he is forced to go into hiding in a small fishing town. Here, Ian has a fishing accident which causes him to have a come-to-Jesus moment about being rich and then basically goes crazy. Meanwhile, Carità wants to go to college and Lila Gulliver has the most unrealistic romance ever with Ian’s dad, Mike.
The first thing that got me was the totally misleading of the jacket, which promised that the two main characters, the Madame of a successful legal prostitution house (Lila Gulliver) and a blind prostitute she hires (Carità), would have life changing impacts on each other. They did not. I’ll tell you what happened. Carità came to work, stayed for about 10 pages then met a boy who she manipulated into marrying her so she could have his money. Oh and Lila falls in love with his dad. No lasting impacts happened, that were outside of the ordinary. Carità seemed totally replaceable except for the fact that she was blind. The interactions between Carità and Lila are stilted at best. They have no true relationship beside what the author is telling you, which made for a bland book.
My main issue was the telling. My god it was like having to read a long text from your friend about a run in with their ex that changed their life when really they said hi in the grocery store. No substance in the writing, no character development and purely plot driven. I love a good plot driven book. WHEN ADVERTISED AS SUCH. The plot was so annoying it was literally told two ways: a character telling another character what happened over food in the breakfast room or the action happening to Lila and her telling you what happened then saying stupid shit like “I miss Carità”.
I also had an issue with the timing of the book. I had no clue whether stuff was happening the next day or weeks in advance. This made for a much weaker plot as the writer only wrote about action sequences, back to back to back. Also, it seemed like Carità only worked there for like a month before she got married, so how attached could she be?
Furthermore every character sucked.
Carità: She has no character arch. All of her traits were thrown at her randomly when the author needed a plot point. She was so basic and we saw nothing from her. All the other characters had ZERO character development. They had traits randomly assigned to them to fit the stupid plot.
Lila Gulliver: possibly the person with the biggest savior complex ever. The only reason she seems attached to Carità is because she is blind and worried about her bc she is so so weak. Girl just married the richest man on the island, she’ll be fine. And before you say it’s because she’s so caring, she mentioned having one worker in a toxic relationship and oh well! Also she is SO GREAT because one of her workers goes to school. This woman is insufferable. Her chasing Carità around the whole book is so pathetic. Lila is a horrible storyteller, should have been told from Carità’s perspective.
The plot: sucked! So much happened yet it was so stupid. It felt like a Disney movie where the writers run out of stuff to pitch. Nothing made sense for the characters and there were so MANY like god.
The ending: the ending was one big long summary, like the entire book but with a much quicker pace. Lila has a brief moment of contemplation where she wonders if she is exploiting her workers and Carità but quickly recovers and it turns out hunky-dory. The moment where she quickly glosses over the exploitation and the potential morality issues with prostitution, the author doesn’t even dwell on it. I was disappointed that this only showed up in the end.The ending was perfect because it was exactly what I expected. An ending that did as much as the book did, which was nothing. Unless you like a long ramble with inconsistent characters.
December 18, 2024
What a quirky, unusual book. I thoroughly enjoyed this, basically the story of a blind prostitute, Carita and her madam, Mrs Gulliver. Completely different and original!
May 2, 2024
I wasn't expecting this story. It was so good. I loved the depth of the characters. Highly recommend.
August 4, 2024
This book was so comically bad, I almost couldn’t wait to write the review. I knew it would prove to be a dud, based on the GoodReads reviews, but I hoped the plot, which seemed an intriguing premise, would drive the novel. But goodness, am I stunned this book got published! It seems deeply indulgent on the part of the editors and the publishing house; it’s as if they thought, here’s an older author with a modest following and career, let’s just throw her a bone, give her a pat on the back. But it’s astonishing that this could get published over other work! The characters are shallow and unlikeable, without even a trace of nuance or actual humanity. There is zero craft to the writing, and it reads like someone who is just learning the very basic elements of storytelling. At best, it’s boring, and at worst, it’s nonsensical and offensive.
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