Shrines of Gaiety

Shrines of Gaiety by Kate Atkinson

Shrines of Gaiety by Kate Atkinson is an immersive leap into the world of crime in 1920s London, set against the backdrop of the roaring nightclub scene of the Bright Young Things. Atkinson draws some brilliant characters, including Nellie, the owner of the nightclubs and Queen of the Underground, as well as the matriarch of a large and rather diverse family.

Critics have noted Dickensian elements in the novel, and I would agree, but Atkinson’s prose flows much better and is far more accessible to a modern audience. We, the readers, follow the mystery of the disappearing hostesses and the enemies Nellie has made during her rise to the top. Atkinson develops atmosphere and context brilliantly and once again proves her ability to take on any writing genre.

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Jenny