The Destruction of Innocence

The sexual awakening of the young Lord Duncan Gascoigne initially addresses his exploitation by the perverted butler of his uncaring mother. These encounters lead to his experimentation with, and manipulation of, other aristocratic young gentlemen, resulting in his cruel desire for sexual dominance. His experiences are in marked contrast to the gentle sexual awakening of Lady Emily Smythe. This takes place with her three close, and equally naive, young friends as they explore each other's innocent and untouched bodies on the eve of their presentation to Queen Victoria. This ceremony marks the commencement of the London Social Season and launches the debutantes' entry to womanhood. The ill-fated meeting of these two young people, coming from very different backgrounds, ill-prepares the unworldly Emily for the horror ahead with the cruel and merciless nobleman. Set in the 19th century, partly in the unsavoury world of the London sex and gambling clubs, and partly with the more genteel activities of the aristocracy, this tale of Victorian life is Sandra Boyle's debut novel and will certainly leave you wanting more