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The Dragon Lady cover art

The Dragon Lady

By: Louisa Treger
Narrated by: Laura Kirman
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Summary

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.

©2019 Louisa Treger (P)2019 Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

Critic reviews

"Treger has captured the last days of colonial Rhodesia perfectly. It is not just Lady Courtauld’s story, but also the people fighting for the country’s future. And while the book may only focus on a small piece of Zimbabwe’s long complicated history, it does so with emotion and fire." (Sally Partridge, author of Mine)

"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, author of Nervous Conditions)

What listeners say about The Dragon Lady

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Fascinating untold story of the Courtlaulds

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.

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So interesting and well described

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

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wonderful book that kept me wanting to listen on

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.

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