DERBY DAY

The wonder horse Tiberius, tipped for future greatness, is being kept literally under wraps in a Lincolnshire stable by his bemused owner Davenant, who is powerless to prevent the flamboyant arch-chancer Mr Happerton from manoeuvring him into bankruptcy. But Happerton lacks the readies to purchase the horse, and his desperation takes him into marriage with an inscrutable red-haired heiress Rebecca Gresham, who he often thinks resembles that calculating and shrewish heroine with the same name, Becky Sharp of the best-selling novel Vanity Fair. Happerton is slightly afraid of Rebecca and is completely unable to tell whether she supports him in his shady endeavours. In any case, Rebecca's father disapproves of flashy Mr Happerton, so will Rebecca be able to talk him into a loan? Happerton finds himself returning to the associates of his past life, including his disreputable sidekick Captain Raff, the ill-assorted safebreakers Lythgoe and Pardew and eventually his theatrical former mistress Rosa. Meanwhile, up in Lincolnshire, the young governess Miss Ellington takes charge of Davenant's strange daughter Evie, with unexpected results. As Derby Day approaches, everyone's life is turned upside down. And will Tiberius win? A great read with a superbly created Victorian underworld, brilliantly juxtaposing high and low life. 405pp, paperback.