Shrines of Gaiety Book Club Kit
Immersing us in the dazzling world of London during the Roaring Twenties, bestselling storyteller Kate Atkinson has created a captivating tale of seduction and corruption in Shrines of Gaiety—an homage to the glittering nightclubs of Soho and the colorful cast of characters who passed through their doors.
At the center of the novel is the notorious club owner Nellie Coker, recently released from Holloway Women’s Prison and eager to return to the helm of her empire. Her endless responsibilities include negotiating with gangsters and protecting her family from the dangers of the city; lately, unidentified drowned girls have been washing up on the banks of the Thames. Chief Inspector Frobisher is on the case, which leads him directly to a runaway who also happens to be one of Nellie’s newest hires. At night, it’s easy to forget the grittiness, when Nellie’s legendary hotspots are packed with glittering starlets and political power brokers—and, of course, occasional spies.
The questions that follow are designed to enrich your book club’s discussion of Shrines of Gaiety. We invite you to cue up a Tin Pan Alley playlist, pour yourself a vintage cocktail from the author’s recommended compendium available here, and enter the world of Nellie Coker . . . grande dame of earthly delights.
To download a PDF of the book club kit, click here or on the image below.
