Eager to try her hand at activism, a young woman in London moves in with her “friend” who is devoted to social issues, only for things to go awry, in this rediscovered queer Victorian novel.
After her beloved father passes away, Althea Vane is adrift. Her mother is selling the beautiful home she grew up in, the only one she’s ever known. When all hope seems lost, Althea’s companion and lover, Faustina, asks her to move in.
When it comes to Faustina, impressive is an understatement. Though Althea’s siblings see her as a misfit, Faustina has given up life’s luxuries to serve the Cause of Humanity—bouncing between a rat-infested Notting Hill lodging house and an old Chelsea flat that’s just sprung up “to meet the requirements and match the purses of independent female spirits.” She dedicates herself to many missions: affordable housing, safer working conditions, the abolishment of infant labor. Faustina’s selfless contributions make Althea beam and blush. Maybe a taste of this life—a life for and amongst the working class—is what Althea really needs. But is she ready to become a social crusader for the Cause? And is the spirited Faustina the good influence and perfect companion Althea supposes her to be?
Originally published in 1897, this queer Victorian novel full of drama and humor feels more relevant than ever. Despite their better intentions, young people are messy—always have been, always will be.
