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The Dragon Lady

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The Dragon Lady

By: Louisa Treger
Narrated by: Laura Kirman
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Bloomsbury presents The Dragon Lady by Louisa Treger, read by Laura Kirman.

In a period of civil unrest before the War of Liberation, a wealthy and influential couple leave Britain to make a new life in 1950s Rhodesia.

Opening with the shooting of Lady Virginia 'Ginie' Courtauld in her tranquil garden in 1950s Rhodesia, The Dragon Lady, so called for the exotic tattoo snaking up her leg, tells Ginie's extraordinary story.

From the glamorous Italian Riviera before the Great War to the Art Deco glory of Eltham Palace in the thirties, and from the secluded Scottish Highlands to segregated Rhodesia in the fifties, the narrative spans enormous cultural and social change. Lady Virginia Courtauld was a boundary-breaking, colourful and unconventional person who rejected the submissive role women were expected to play.

Ostracised by society for being a foreign divorcée at the time of Edward VIII and Mrs Simpson, Ginie and her second husband, Stephen Courtauld, leave the confines of post-war Britain to forge a new life in Rhodesia, only to find that being progressive liberals during segregation proves mortally dangerous. Many people had reason to dislike Ginie, but who had reason enough to pull the trigger?

Deeply evocative of time and place, The Dragon Lady subtly blends fact and fiction to paint the portrait of an extraordinary woman in an era of great social and cultural change. 20th Century Crime Fiction Fiction Historical Mystery Romantic Suspense Romance Fantasy Highlander War Dragons
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Critic reviews

A fascinating fictionalised account of the life of Lady Virginia Courtauld... a spirited account of a flamboyant life. (Antonia Senior)
An intriguing portrait of an unconventional woman.
The Dragon Lady powerfully captures the colonial era in Zimbabwe … Lovers of historical fiction won’t be disappointed.
Will keep readers spellbound.
beautifully written, absorbing book (SD Sykes)
If you enjoy books that involve both fiction and non-fiction, then I am delighted to highly recommend The Dragon Lady.
I fell into the story and got lost in it, and I came out of it wanting to know more about Rhodesia/Zimbabwe history.
Louisa Treger’s latest novel, The Dragon Lady, is a frightening story of miscegenation and racism. This story will keep you turning pages well into a dark night. 5 Stars
A daring blend of romance, crime and history, and an intelligent exposé of the inherent injustice and consequences of all forms of oppression. (Tsitsi Dangarembga,)
All stars
Most relevant
Despite visiting the Courtlaulds Institute and Eltham Palace in London little did I know about the life of the Courtlaulds. I have enjoyed this Audiobook though I didn't quite understand the idea of Subtitles switching back and forth from Jenny in the 1950s to Catherine in the 1950s chapter after chapter. Performance was excellent.

Fascinating untold story of the Courtlaulds

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I enjoyed it lots- historical interest and I remember visiting Zimbabwe years ago, so nostalgic.

So interesting and well described

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I loved this book, despite not realising for some time that it was based on real people. very accurately too. it really painted a picture of the country, people and time. didn't want it to end.

wonderful book that kept me wanting to listen on

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