Vulcana

'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

Rebecca F. John was born in Llanelli. Her first novel, The Haunting of Henry Twist (Serpent's Tail, 2017) was shortlisted for the Costa First Novel Award. She won the PEN International New Voices Award 2015. In 2017 she was on the Hay Festival's 'The Hay 30' list. Her stories have been broadcast on Radio 4. She lives in Swansea with her dogs. Her previous book for Honno, Fannie, was published in January 2022 and was Waterstones Book of the Month for Wales and the Books Council of Wales Book of the Month.