“Why, oh why, did I ever allow the phrase ‘lesbo-Victorian romp' to cross my lips?” (Patterson, “Sarah Waters: The Hot Tip”). Though Sarah Waters' plaintive tone is obviously tongue-in-cheek, it is certainly true that her novels are chiefly known for their playful, bawdy, and sensual qualities. Television adaptations of Tipping the Velvet (BBC: 2002) and Fingersmith (BBC: 2005) profited from this popular conception; Andrew Davies' adaptation of Tipping the Velvet, in particular, revelled in cheeky double entendres and explicit sex scenes. One specific encounter brought explicit lesbian sex to mainstream television audiences, with actors Anna Chancellor, Rachael Stirling, and one very significant prop – Monsieur Dildo.
Born in Neyland, Pembrokeshire in 1966, Waters describes her childhood as “pretty idyllic”, part of a small, creative family in a beautiful part of Wales. She recalls in...
1147 words
Citation: Yates, Louisa. "Sarah Waters". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 09 January 2008 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=11906, accessed 14 December 2025.]
