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THE SHOW WOMAN

A beautifully evoked historical novel about the first all female circus act
Brief Description
'A very special debut' JENNY COLGAN 'Suspenseful, authentic, sexy and uplifting. Beautiful writing plunges the reader into the showgrounds of Edwardian Scotland, sights, sounds, smells and all' ERIN KELLY 'Beautifully written, engaging plot and thoroughly researched' STYLIST 'A joy to read, so beautifully written, evoking the... Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
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The Show Woman is the unforgettable first novel from journalist Emma Cowing, a heart-warming and heart-breaking historical drama of four circus women defying the odds, for fans of The Whalebone Theatre and The Greatest Showman.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

'A very special debut' JENNY COLGAN

'Suspenseful, authentic, sexy and uplifting. Beautiful writing plunges the reader into the showgrounds of Edwardian Scotland, sights, sounds, smells and all' ERIN KELLY

'Beautifully written, engaging plot and thoroughly researched' STYLIST

'A joy to read, so beautifully written, evoking the rich and often overlooked story of the travelling fairs of Edwardian-era Scotland' SEAN LUSK

THE SHOW MUST GO ON ...

1910. With the disappearance of her mother and the sudden death of her father, Lena instantly loses any security she has within the circus she has known all her life. She is advised to sell the carousel her father cared for like a child and look for a husband, or a job in a factory.

Until flame-haired Violet, known to all in the fairgrounds as 'the greatest trapeze artist that ever lived', suggests they go it alone with their own, all-female act. With her outspoken ways and her refusal to marry, Violet is as much an outcast as Lena. What do they have to lose? Recruiting new performers including bareback horse-rider Rosie, on the run from her abusive father, and Carmen whose rainbow ribbons hide the darkness in her past, the four women form an unbreakable bond.

Thrust into a harsh and dangerous world that treats them with suspicion, disdain and even violence, they must forge their own path in search of freedom, security, and love.

Deeply rooted in the Edwardian era, THE SHOW WOMAN is brilliantly realised and expertly interlaces strong female characters, deeply-woven family secrets and heartfelt love stories.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781399737401

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 01 May 2025

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Hodder & Stoughton

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 153.0mm

Height: 234.0mm

Weight: 404g

Pages: 336

About the Author

Emma Cowing is an award-winning journalist and writer. She has written for a wide number of publications including The Sunday Times, Mail on Sunday, Guardian Weekend Magazine, Spectator and Scotsman.

Emma is a former Feature Writer of the Year at the Scottish Press Awards, and two-time Interviewer of the Year. She holds an Ochberg Fellowship in Journalism and Trauma at Columbia Journalism School in New York, for her work covering the war in Afghanistan, and its aftermath.

Emma was shortlisted for the 2023 Cheshire Novel Prize, and longlisted for the 2023 Bath Novel Award and Blue Pencil First Novel Award. The Show Woman is her first novel.

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