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Quicunque Vult
Quicunque vult: A forward girl, ready to oblige every man that shall ask her.
(Grose’s Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, 1811)
A feisty Irish prostitute with a murky past finds herself stuck in London’s East End in the year of the Ripper.
Reeling from a series of bad choices and even worse luck, Mary Jane needs to quit her immoral life. She’s approaching thirty years of age, which means her best days are coming to an end, and she’s running out of time to better herself.
Ever cognizant of the narrowing window of opportunity before her, the openly sapphic and increasingly reluctant harlot sets her mind to escape from Whitechapel, her wishy-washy plans spurred on all the more when she meets Eva: an inexperienced young flower girl who falls keenly into her embrace and her bed.
Determined to shield the poorly educated and impecunious sixteen-year-old against the corrupting influence of men, and the desperate misery of poverty that drives so many naive slum girls to the streets, Mary Jane will do whatever it takes to preserve Eva’s innocence, and to keep the wolf from baying at their door. Even if it kills her.
(Grose’s Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, 1811)
A feisty Irish prostitute with a murky past finds herself stuck in London’s East End in the year of the Ripper.
Reeling from a series of bad choices and even worse luck, Mary Jane needs to quit her immoral life. She’s approaching thirty years of age, which means her best days are coming to an end, and she’s running out of time to better herself.
Ever cognizant of the narrowing window of opportunity before her, the openly sapphic and increasingly reluctant harlot sets her mind to escape from Whitechapel, her wishy-washy plans spurred on all the more when she meets Eva: an inexperienced young flower girl who falls keenly into her embrace and her bed.
Determined to shield the poorly educated and impecunious sixteen-year-old against the corrupting influence of men, and the desperate misery of poverty that drives so many naive slum girls to the streets, Mary Jane will do whatever it takes to preserve Eva’s innocence, and to keep the wolf from baying at their door. Even if it kills her.
723 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2015
14 people are currently reading
155 people want to read
About the author
Keira Michelle Telford
29 books287 followersKeira Michelle Telford is an award-winning author with a love for the gruesome, the macabre, and the downright filthy. She writes dystopian science fiction, contemporary and historical erotic lesbian romance, and other lesbian fiction, often with a focus on age-gap relationships.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
April 19, 2018
Another great Telford novel, albeit a very long one. Still, it never once dragged. It was a difficult read at times, solely due to how realistic Telford described the time period. She so meticulously researched this period and topic(Jack the Ripper). You literally feel like you are living in the slums of London in the late 1800's. And that is not a good feeling. It's dark, destitute, dirty, and violent...oh so violent.
You are rooting for the MC Mary Jane from page one until the very end. She has gone through so many terrible things in her short life to date(sexual assault, rape, physical abuse, still born...etc.), yet she is a fighter through and through and NEVER complains! Eva, her GF, on the other hand complains non stop, but she's 16 and that is ones main job duty at that age.
The sexual scenes are so numerous, I cannot even make a guess as to how many. And they are not all erotic. In fact many of them are M/F and difficult to read due to the brutal description from Telford. But these scenes are necessary and true to the life of the women who were poor, single, or widowed during this age. Most of them had little to zero options other than prostitution.
As with all of Telford's books, there is zero sugarcoating. She tells it like it is, even when it's the brutal, violent truth.
Highly recommended. 5 stars.
You are rooting for the MC Mary Jane from page one until the very end. She has gone through so many terrible things in her short life to date(sexual assault, rape, physical abuse, still born...etc.), yet she is a fighter through and through and NEVER complains! Eva, her GF, on the other hand complains non stop, but she's 16 and that is ones main job duty at that age.
The sexual scenes are so numerous, I cannot even make a guess as to how many. And they are not all erotic. In fact many of them are M/F and difficult to read due to the brutal description from Telford. But these scenes are necessary and true to the life of the women who were poor, single, or widowed during this age. Most of them had little to zero options other than prostitution.
As with all of Telford's books, there is zero sugarcoating. She tells it like it is, even when it's the brutal, violent truth.
Highly recommended. 5 stars.
July 6, 2018
A TRUE MASTERPIECE. A TOUR DE FORCE IN LITERATURE.
First and foremost, the title. “Quicunque Vult.” One word: BRILLIANT. Caught me attention there.
Then, there’s this…..
Mary Jane Kelly.
Yes, THAT Mary Jane. Believed to be Jack The Ripper’s final victim who suffered the most ghastly butchery and mutilation in 1888.
A lesbian love story involving Mary Jane Kelly?
SOLD.
Keira Michelle Telford gives Dickens and Sarah Waters a run for their own money with this piece of classic gem that is “Quicunque Vult.” It’s beyond lesbian fiction (lesfic). It’s pure literary fiction. The amount of research, the level of detail, the amount of knowledge in history that Telford injected in this book is truly a rich piece of work that deserves to be appreciated and revered. A truly remarkable work of literature.
That said, “Quicunque Vult” is definitely NOT for the faint of heart.
My full commentary here...
In Bug's Own Words
First and foremost, the title. “Quicunque Vult.” One word: BRILLIANT. Caught me attention there.
Then, there’s this…..
Mary Jane Kelly.
Yes, THAT Mary Jane. Believed to be Jack The Ripper’s final victim who suffered the most ghastly butchery and mutilation in 1888.
A lesbian love story involving Mary Jane Kelly?
SOLD.
Keira Michelle Telford gives Dickens and Sarah Waters a run for their own money with this piece of classic gem that is “Quicunque Vult.” It’s beyond lesbian fiction (lesfic). It’s pure literary fiction. The amount of research, the level of detail, the amount of knowledge in history that Telford injected in this book is truly a rich piece of work that deserves to be appreciated and revered. A truly remarkable work of literature.
That said, “Quicunque Vult” is definitely NOT for the faint of heart.
My full commentary here...
In Bug's Own Words
December 23, 2015
This is obviously a very well researched story, in terms of the historic background, livelihood, living conditions of the East End Slump in the 1800s London, and Mary Jane Kelly herself - who is supposedly the last victim of Jack the Ripper. Not knowing much about the Ripper's victims, I went googling on Mary Jane and I am utterly amazed at the author's ability to intertwine Mary Jane's fictional story with historical records.
The story opens with Mary Jane taking a client at one of the East End back allys, immediately you're being drawn into the life of a prostitute in a slummy part of London in the 1800s. Upon retreating back to her quarters, Mary Jane met Eva, her neighbour who was barely at sixteen and was almost succumbing into an unfortunate/ abusive life by the hands of her mother's latest lover. Mary Jane stepped in, offered shelter and protection and there's now their relationship gradually started.
At first I thought the relationship between Mary Jane and Eva was quite one-sided and more of lust than love. But as the story unfolds, Eva really grew up from being the innocent chic into a solid partner who was there for Mary Jane through thick and thin. I felt utterly touched by their love and absolute devotion for one another, and not to mention their chemistry/ sex scenes are absolutely hot.
There is a fair bit of graphic M/F sex depicted in the story as well, not all of them are pretty. I would say though, they are probably a rather realistic account of the abusive life living and selling your body on the streets of East End.
The author has written in her final note - "I wanted to give life to a woman who is only remembered for her death". I think this book did a superb job in just doing so. Mary Jane's character is intriguing, complex and multi-dimensional. I'd rather like to think she survived as well. I'm looking forward to the sequel coming in 2016.
P.S. - This is quite a lengthy book (counting over 700 pages), you may want to properly spend a weekend just reading through the book.
The story opens with Mary Jane taking a client at one of the East End back allys, immediately you're being drawn into the life of a prostitute in a slummy part of London in the 1800s. Upon retreating back to her quarters, Mary Jane met Eva, her neighbour who was barely at sixteen and was almost succumbing into an unfortunate/ abusive life by the hands of her mother's latest lover. Mary Jane stepped in, offered shelter and protection and there's now their relationship gradually started.
At first I thought the relationship between Mary Jane and Eva was quite one-sided and more of lust than love. But as the story unfolds, Eva really grew up from being the innocent chic into a solid partner who was there for Mary Jane through thick and thin. I felt utterly touched by their love and absolute devotion for one another, and not to mention their chemistry/ sex scenes are absolutely hot.
There is a fair bit of graphic M/F sex depicted in the story as well, not all of them are pretty. I would say though, they are probably a rather realistic account of the abusive life living and selling your body on the streets of East End.
The author has written in her final note - "I wanted to give life to a woman who is only remembered for her death". I think this book did a superb job in just doing so. Mary Jane's character is intriguing, complex and multi-dimensional. I'd rather like to think she survived as well. I'm looking forward to the sequel coming in 2016.
P.S. - This is quite a lengthy book (counting over 700 pages), you may want to properly spend a weekend just reading through the book.
May 16, 2022
I have an exam tomorrow which I didn't even open today because I simply couldn't keep neither my hands nor my mind off the book.
Oh, God! A huge thank you to @Netty for recommending it to me.
I knew it would be great, it's not the first book by Telford that I'm reading and I truly love the way she writes. And I appreciate the author's research on Mary Jane's life and the Jack the Ripper case. I savored each word of this rather long book.
It was often too dark and cruel for my tastes and I was constantly scared that something bad may happen to Eva and that it would break Mary Jane's heart even more. Speaking of Mary Jane..I might've developed a crush on that kind-hearted woman. I was again constantly preoccupied for her and at times even had to stop reading.
It's hard to properly describe how much I enjoyed the book, each detail of everyday life during Victorian era, each dialogue, every small detail of people's clothing. I was also fascinated by the variety of procedures that Mary Jane had to follow before and after visiting her clients and how many times they are mentioned in the book.
The book is extremely erotic but it's also often repugnant. So please, keep that in mind.
After some time I'm definitely going to reread the book, calmly this time, not fearing for Mary Jane's life.
12/11/2019 Third timereading and still loving it a lot!
Oh, God! A huge thank you to @Netty for recommending it to me.
I knew it would be great, it's not the first book by Telford that I'm reading and I truly love the way she writes. And I appreciate the author's research on Mary Jane's life and the Jack the Ripper case. I savored each word of this rather long book.
It was often too dark and cruel for my tastes and I was constantly scared that something bad may happen to Eva and that it would break Mary Jane's heart even more. Speaking of Mary Jane..I might've developed a crush on that kind-hearted woman. I was again constantly preoccupied for her and at times even had to stop reading.
It's hard to properly describe how much I enjoyed the book, each detail of everyday life during Victorian era, each dialogue, every small detail of people's clothing. I was also fascinated by the variety of procedures that Mary Jane had to follow before and after visiting her clients and how many times they are mentioned in the book.
The book is extremely erotic but it's also often repugnant. So please, keep that in mind.
After some time I'm definitely going to reread the book, calmly this time, not fearing for Mary Jane's life.
12/11/2019 Third timereading and still loving it a lot!
February 19, 2017
It would've been 5 stars had it not been all those bodily fluids practically on every single page. I really liked the story, especially Mary Jane as a character.
March 27, 2016
What a tomb of a book - 500+ pages! But if you're a fan of Keira Michelle Telford's writing and style- which is definitely not for everyone since her books are typically super dark, gritty, explicit (though still with a HEA thankfully), this one is another of her winner.
For a detailed review, check out Musa's review, which I agree with completely.
I just want to add that this book is only available via Amazon. So if you're not in the U.S., it's pretty hard to buy this book since Amazon does not allow non U.S. purchases for kindle books. I had to figuratively jump hoops in order to buy this book, urgh. Hopefully the author will make her books more accessible to people who are non-kindle owners moving forward.
Other than that, great read, looking forward to the sequel and also the third book of her Prison World trilogy.
For a detailed review, check out Musa's review, which I agree with completely.
I just want to add that this book is only available via Amazon. So if you're not in the U.S., it's pretty hard to buy this book since Amazon does not allow non U.S. purchases for kindle books. I had to figuratively jump hoops in order to buy this book, urgh. Hopefully the author will make her books more accessible to people who are non-kindle owners moving forward.
Other than that, great read, looking forward to the sequel and also the third book of her Prison World trilogy.
July 27, 2022
This was a LONG book.
Not that I had a problem with that because I like big books and I cannot lie, lol.
This was an amazing historical fiction chock full of Victorian details - the sights, sounds and stench of Whitechapel. Telford definitely did her homework. Her writing style reminds me a little of Victorian mystery author Anne Perry, who is also very good at conveying both atmosphere and the labyrinthine social mores of that era.
Unfortunately the novel was bogged down by unnecessarily detailed non-consensual sexual encounters between the heroine and her street clients. I'm far from squeamish or prudish, and life for a woman in that era without means to protect herself or a "proper" marriage was worse than dismal, but after several encounters with various and sundry men, it was like "enough already".
The main heroine - Mary Jane Kelly (Jack the Ripper's purported last victim) - worked the streets of East London and her life was one of hardship, deprivation and abuse. I got all that. I certainly didn't begrudge the character surviving the best ways she knew how, but in this case less was definitely more. I suppose the non-consensual was written as a counterbalance to the consensual.
I give the author extra stars for mentioning Black and Japanese Victorians in London which is more than I can say about a lot of historical fiction authors who still insist upon their myths of a lily-white Victorian England. A quick Google search would instantly disabuse them of that idea.
It was an interesting narrative choice to tell an erotic story about one of Jack the Ripper's perhaps victims though. I liked Mary though some of her choices were selfish, especially the drinking, which often put her in dangerous situations.
Still, Mary was willing to do whatever it took to protect Eva, her young but not as naïve lover. Truth to tell this was Mary's tale and Eva never seemed fully fleshed out as a character.
I saw there's a sequel and I would like to know how these two women and other "Sapphics" came to fare in Kent.
Not that I had a problem with that because I like big books and I cannot lie, lol.
This was an amazing historical fiction chock full of Victorian details - the sights, sounds and stench of Whitechapel. Telford definitely did her homework. Her writing style reminds me a little of Victorian mystery author Anne Perry, who is also very good at conveying both atmosphere and the labyrinthine social mores of that era.
Unfortunately the novel was bogged down by unnecessarily detailed non-consensual sexual encounters between the heroine and her street clients. I'm far from squeamish or prudish, and life for a woman in that era without means to protect herself or a "proper" marriage was worse than dismal, but after several encounters with various and sundry men, it was like "enough already".
The main heroine - Mary Jane Kelly (Jack the Ripper's purported last victim) - worked the streets of East London and her life was one of hardship, deprivation and abuse. I got all that. I certainly didn't begrudge the character surviving the best ways she knew how, but in this case less was definitely more. I suppose the non-consensual was written as a counterbalance to the consensual.
I give the author extra stars for mentioning Black and Japanese Victorians in London which is more than I can say about a lot of historical fiction authors who still insist upon their myths of a lily-white Victorian England. A quick Google search would instantly disabuse them of that idea.
It was an interesting narrative choice to tell an erotic story about one of Jack the Ripper's perhaps victims though. I liked Mary though some of her choices were selfish, especially the drinking, which often put her in dangerous situations.
Still, Mary was willing to do whatever it took to protect Eva, her young but not as naïve lover. Truth to tell this was Mary's tale and Eva never seemed fully fleshed out as a character.
I saw there's a sequel and I would like to know how these two women and other "Sapphics" came to fare in Kent.
October 29, 2023
5 stars. Keira Michelle Telford is one of my favorites for a reason. I loved this! It’s super intense and heavy and dark and it’s a whopping 700+ pages and I devoured it. Took me all day but it had me so entranced. I was hooked from the very beginning.
The writing is fantastic and feels true to the time and it just has a gritty and raw feel to it which I liked. The characters were absolutely fascinating especially Mary Jane. What a character! She’s endured so much but she has so much resilience and strength to her and the romance between her and Eva was beautiful and engrossing. Both characters go through some fantastic development and growth. I liked the way this was done and how Telford took her time setting everything up so by the time the killings start happening it just really ramps up and already intense story.
I loved the way everything wrapped up but then I got sad that there was supposed to be a sequel to this coming out all the way back in 2016 so needless to say that’s not going to happen which sucks. I would’ve loved a book two but this works perfectly as a standalone. It’s not one I would read again as my heart wouldn’t be able to handle it again but I’m glad that I’ve read it. It’s fantastic.
The writing is fantastic and feels true to the time and it just has a gritty and raw feel to it which I liked. The characters were absolutely fascinating especially Mary Jane. What a character! She’s endured so much but she has so much resilience and strength to her and the romance between her and Eva was beautiful and engrossing. Both characters go through some fantastic development and growth. I liked the way this was done and how Telford took her time setting everything up so by the time the killings start happening it just really ramps up and already intense story.
I loved the way everything wrapped up but then I got sad that there was supposed to be a sequel to this coming out all the way back in 2016 so needless to say that’s not going to happen which sucks. I would’ve loved a book two but this works perfectly as a standalone. It’s not one I would read again as my heart wouldn’t be able to handle it again but I’m glad that I’ve read it. It’s fantastic.
December 1, 2019
Erotic lesbian thriller that had me gasping. If you’re queasy at all about bodily fluids or male violence it’s not for you. Some of it was hard to take. But I made the decision to buy it. So that’s on me. Set in Victorian London at a time of huge social inequity, during the reign of terror of Jack the Ripper, and I suspect well researched, this is a long but gripping tale of trying to live in an unforgiving world of deprivation, miasmic air, no sanitation and scarce access to water
The tension was intense, the author kept turning the screw, then easing off, turning..then easing. My poor heart.
I loved the language. The structure befitting the times and the use of words contemporary to the times served to embed me deeper with each chapter. I am now an A+ admirer of this author’s work and will be reading out her whole body of work with gusto
The tension was intense, the author kept turning the screw, then easing off, turning..then easing. My poor heart.
I loved the language. The structure befitting the times and the use of words contemporary to the times served to embed me deeper with each chapter. I am now an A+ admirer of this author’s work and will be reading out her whole body of work with gusto
November 10, 2021
Another excellent book by Telford
This was a really well written story by Telford. I was a bit hesitant to start this one due to the length and some other reviews that mentioned the grittier nature of the story. But now that I’ve finished it I’m happy to have read it. Telford really brought this story to life and I loved every moment with Mary Jane and Eva. Even with the considerable length of this story, I never tired of it. Like others have mentioned though, there is a lot of explicitly written sexual violence depicted against women and that was hard to read at times. But it definitely felt like a necessary part of the story based on the setting and lives these women led.
Also, I see there was supposed to be a sequel. If that ever comes about, I’d love to read it.
This was a really well written story by Telford. I was a bit hesitant to start this one due to the length and some other reviews that mentioned the grittier nature of the story. But now that I’ve finished it I’m happy to have read it. Telford really brought this story to life and I loved every moment with Mary Jane and Eva. Even with the considerable length of this story, I never tired of it. Like others have mentioned though, there is a lot of explicitly written sexual violence depicted against women and that was hard to read at times. But it definitely felt like a necessary part of the story based on the setting and lives these women led.
Also, I see there was supposed to be a sequel. If that ever comes about, I’d love to read it.
September 16, 2019
this one took me a while, had to put down then come back to it.
November 10, 2020
I WANT THE SEQUEL 😩😭❤
March 10, 2022
Marvelously researched story exploring the dark and seedy side of late 19th century London life. Likeable characters that draw you into their struggles. Well written lesbian erotica.
July 7, 2024
A masterpiece. This is way too underrated.
May 20, 2015
Part mystery, part suspense, part romance, all Telford
Like Telford's other books, there are parts of this book that will challenge your gag reflex, and other parts that will get you hot. The plot starts a little slow and focuses on character development in the beginning. Toward the end you feel like you're running through the streets of London from the Ripper himself, your only aide the spot (or 5) of gin you imbibed for courage and calming.
Like Telford's other books, there are parts of this book that will challenge your gag reflex, and other parts that will get you hot. The plot starts a little slow and focuses on character development in the beginning. Toward the end you feel like you're running through the streets of London from the Ripper himself, your only aide the spot (or 5) of gin you imbibed for courage and calming.
November 29, 2015
5 star book
Really long book, it took me around 20 hours to read it. With that being said, it was very graphic and interesting the whole way through. It piqued my curiosity about the people that were in it since it was based off of actual people. This is the second book I've read from this author and I'm about to purchase everything she has available after reading this one. You won't be disappointed if you purchase this if you.
Really long book, it took me around 20 hours to read it. With that being said, it was very graphic and interesting the whole way through. It piqued my curiosity about the people that were in it since it was based off of actual people. This is the second book I've read from this author and I'm about to purchase everything she has available after reading this one. You won't be disappointed if you purchase this if you.
August 14, 2015
This was a very gritty hard look at the life of a prostitute in the East End of London. It was disgusting, revolting and at times hard to imagine life that way. This book was wonderfully written and I just seemed to fall into the story. This isn't an easy book to read, but it is well worth it!
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews