'Telling the frankly jaw-dropping story of real life Victorian strongwoman Vulcana, it held me spellbound. A master storyteller at her absolute peak.' Liz Hyder
On a winter's night in 1892, Kate Williams, the daughter of a Baptist Minister, leaves Abergavenny and sets out for London with a wild plan: she is going to become a strongwoman.
But it is not only her ambition she is chasing. William Roberts, the leader of a music hall troupe, has captured her imagination and her heart. In London, William reinvents Kate as 'Vulcana - Most Beautiful Woman on Earth', and himself 'Atlas'. Soon they are performing in Britain, France, Australia and Algiers.
But as Vulcana's star rises, Altas' fades, and Kate finds herself holding together a troupe of performers and a family. Kate is a woman driven by love - for William, her children, performing and for life. Can she find a way to be a voice for women and true to herself?
'Beautifully written, thought-provoking & a touching love story.' Tracy Rees
'All the glamour and grit of music halls. A truly empathetic portrayal of a brave, independent young woman.' Essie Fox
An inspirational fictional telling of Welsh Victorian Strongwoman Kate Williams
Vulcana is a fictional telling of the real story of Victorian 'strongwoman' Kate Williams (born 1874), starting when she runs away from home at 16 to travel with the love her life, William Roberts. They perform in music halls as Atlas and Vulcana - the climax of their act is that Kate can lift William over her head. She and William present themselves to the public as brother and sister as they travel the world because William is already married, and William's wife brings up Kate's children with her own. Kate is driven by love: for William, for her children, for performing, and for life, and Rebecca's gorgeous, immersive writing fits perfectly this brave, unconventional woman and her amazing story.
Praise for Rebecca F. John
A prodigious writer of great intelligence and talent. Roshi Fernando
Rebecca F. John's prose is vivid, sparkling with intelligent observation. Sarla Langdon.
