The Emperor's babe : a novel

A coming-of-age tale to make the muses themselves roar with laughter and weep for pity - sassy, razor-sharp and transformative - from the acclaimed author of Mr Loverman “If there is any justice in the world, The Emperor’s Babe will be a huge hit. Fictions like Evaristo’s, overflowing with energy and originality, are as rare as the sauteed peacock brains she has her heroine consume...” - The TimesLondinium, AD 211. Zuleika is a modern girl living in an ancient world. She's a back-alley firecracker, a scruffy Nubian babe with tangled hair and bare feet - and she's just been married off to a fat old Roman. Life as a teenage bride is no joke but Zeeks is a born survivor. She knows this city like the back of her hand: its slave girls and drag queens, its shining villas and rotting slums. She knows how to get by. Until one day she catches the eye of the most powerful man on earth, the Roman Emperor, and her trouble really starts... "Holy Po-Mo, Batman! How about a historical, multicultural, transgender novel - in verse, yet!... There are some stories that just can’t be told straight, and newcomer Evaristo doesn’t bother trying. She lets herself go wild in this account of the fabulous life and celebrated adventures of Zuleika... Truly crazy, lots of fun, and more than slightly perverse: this reads like an episode of Sex and the City written by Ovid." - Kirkus ReviewsSilver-tongued and merry-eyed, this is a story in song and verse, a joyful mash-up of today and yesterday. Kaleidoscoping distant past and vivid present, The Emperor's Babe asks what it means to be a woman and to survive in this thrilling, brutal, breathless world. FROM THE BOOKER PRIZE-WINNING AUTHOR OF GIRL, WOMAN, OTHER WINNER OF THE NESTA FELLOWSHIP AWARD 2003 'Wildly entertaining, deeply affecting' Ali Smith, author of How to be both and Autumn A coming-of-age tale to make the muses themselves roar with laughter and weep for pity — sassy, razor-sharp and transformative. Londinium, AD 211. Zuleika is a modern girl living in an ancient world. She's a back-alley firecracker, a scruffy Nubian babe with tangled hair and bare feet - and she's just been married off a fat old Roman. Life as a teenage bride is no joke but Zeeks is a born survivor. She knows this city like the back of her hand: its slave girls and drag queens, its shining villas and rotting slums. She knows how to get by. Until one day she catches the eye of the most powerful man on earth, the Roman Emperor, and her trouble really starts . . . Silver-tongued and merry-eyed, this is a story in song and verse, a joyful mash-up of today and yesterday. Kaleidoscoping distant past and vivid present, The Emperor's Babe asks what it means to be a woman and to survive in this thrilling, brutal, breathless world. 'wildly Entertaining, Deeply Affecting' Ali Smith, Author Of How To Be Both And Autumn A Coming-of-age Tale To Make The Muses Themselves Roar With Laughter And Weep For Pity -- Sassy, Razor-sharp And Transformative -- From The Acclaimed Author Of Mr Loverman Londinium, Ad 211. Zuleika Is A Modern Girl Living In An Ancient World. She's A Back-alley Firecracker, A Scruffy Nubian Babe With Tangled Hair And Bare Feet - And She's Just Been Married Off A Fat Old Roman. Life As A Teenage Bride Is No Joke But Zeeks Is A Born Survivor. She Knows This City Like The Back Of Her Hand: Its Slave Girls And Drag Queens, Its Shining Villas And Rotting Slums. She Knows How To Get By. Until One Day She Catches The Eye Of The Most Powerful Man On Earth, The Roman Emperor, And Her Trouble Really Starts... Silver-tongued And Merry-eyed, This Is A Story In Song And Verse, A Joyful Mash-up Of Today And Yesterday. Kaleidoscoping Distant Past And Vivid Present, The Emperor's Babe Asks What It Means To Be A Woman And To Survive In This Thrilling, Brutal, Breathless World. Dazzling', 'brilliant', 'streetwise', 'sassy', 'audacious': THE EMPEROR'S BABE has been hailed as one of the most original novels of 2001. Meet Zuleika: sassy girl about town, hellraiser, bored ex-child-bride in Londinium, AD 211. In the place (and time) to be ... Through the bustling, hustling city, we follow Zuleika, feisty and precocious daughter of Sudanese immigrants. Married off to a rich, fat, absent Roman, she is stranded in luxurious neglect, until, one day the Emperor himself, comes to town, bringing with him not just love - but danger ... Funky and funny, sexy and moving, this novel in verse is a triumph of imaginative writing - and of sheer lyrical and emotional vitality.