Tipping the Velvet

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Tipping the Velvet is a 1998 novel written by Sarah Waters which was later adapted into a three-part BBC serial starring Rachael Stirling. Set in Victorian England, it tells the story of Nancy "Nan" Astley, an oyster girl from Whitstable who falls in love with a music hall male impersonator named Kitty Butler.

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Contains examples of:

• Adorkable: Ralph. especially when he walks in on Nan and Florence
• Aristocrats Are Evil: Diana Lethaby and her decadent friends.
• Bifauxnen: Nan
• Cast Full of Gay
• Closet Key: Kitty
• Dirty Communists: Florence and Ralph are aversions (also socialists instead of communists), as they (especially Ralph) are easily the nicest people in the story
• Erotic Eating ("Have you ever tasted a Whitstable oyster?")
• Every One Remembers the Stripper: Is that the series about Victorian lesbians? Sweet.
• Get Thee to A Nunnery: Quite a few examples, most notably the title.
• Happy Ending: But not the one you might have expected.
  • Or wanted, depending on your favoured couple.
• Have a Gay Old Time
• Hooker With a Heart of Gold: Nan, although she technically works as a rent boy.
• Iris Out: In the TV version, obviously. Usually on Nan, since she's the narrator.
• Last Girl Wins: Florence
  • Except that she actually met Florence in the middle and then forgot about her when Diana came along.
• Lipstick Lesbian
• Romantic Two-Girl Friendship: Nan and Flo initially. This being a lesbian story, it ultimately ends up being more than just "friendship."
• Time Passes Montage: Used in the BBC adaptation.
• True Companions: Nan eventually creates a family for herself made up of Florence, Ralph, and Cyril. There's even a scene where the adult members speculate as to who would be in their personal heavens with them and each one lists all the others
• Wholesome Crossdresser: Nan and Kitty