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The rich and atmospheric new novel from prize-winning author Sally Gardner, set in the 18th century between the two great Frost Fairs.
Neva Friezland is born into a world of trickery and illusion, where fortunes can be won and lost on the turn of a card.
She is also born with an extraordinary gift. She can predict the weather. In Regency England, where the proper goal for a gentlewoman is marriage and only God knows the weather, this is dangerous. It is also potentially very lucrative.
In order to debate with the men of science and move about freely, Neva adopts a sophisticated male disguise. She foretells the weather from inside an automaton created by her brilliant clockmaker father.
But what will happen when the disguised Neva falls in love with a charismatic young man?
It can be very dangerous to be ahead of your time. Especially as a woman.
Praise for The Weather Woman:
'A historical story with a refreshingly modern twist, The Weather Woman paints an intriguing portrait of life in the early 1800's, and what it was like to be a woman way ahead of your time' Heat
'Magical storytelling... A fresh take on the Regency novel' Good Housekeeping
'Superbly written and wonderfully atmospheric... A triumph!' Caroline Lea, author of The Glass Woman
'Lashings of adventure, suspense, warmth and wonders... I was completely captivated' Amanda Craig, author of The Golden Rule
Praise for Sally Gardner:
'[A] dab hand at literary world-creation' Observer
'Rich and haunting historical fiction' The Bookseller
'A glorious love story, a spellbinding fable' Adele Parks
'A truly original voice' Spectator
'Sally Gardner has a rare ability to build worlds that are rich, strange and totally unique to her... A story that will enthral you from beginning to end' Absolutely South East
About the author
Sally Gardner gained a first class degree at a leading London art college and became a successful theatre costume designer before illustrating and writing books. Her debut novel, I, Coriander won the Nestle Gold Award and she is also a Costa and Carnegie prize-winner. Her books have been translated all over the world and have sold over two million copies. Find Sally online at sallygardner.co.uk, or on Twitter @TheSallyGardner.
Summary
'Seductive' Observer
'Wildly inventive' The TImes
'Superb... joyful' New Statesman
'A delight' The Sunday Times
'Beguiling' Mail on Sunday
'Magical storytelling' Heat
'A triumph!' Caroline Lea
'Bold and original' Financial Times
'I was completely captivated' Amanda Craig
Neva is born into a world of trickery and illusion, where fortunes are won and lost on the turn of a card. But she is also born with an extraordinary gift: she can predict the weather. In Regency England, where the proper goal for a gentlewoman is marriage and only God can foretell the future, this is a dangerous power to possess.
In order to stand up to the men of science, Neva adopts a sophisticated male disguise, created by her brilliant clockmaker father. But what will happen when she falls in love with a charismatic young man?
Foreword
Sally Gardner's new novel sees a woman born in the Regency period with an extraordinary, dangerous talent, and combines historical fiction with fantastical elements to spellbinding effect.
Additional text
This wonderful novel, set in 18th-century London, between the two great Frost Fairs on the frozen Thames, interweaves magic and science with the dreams of a young woman ahead of her time and in danger because of it
Report
'This is a fresh take on the Regency novel' Good Housekeeping
