First published 1994
In "Great Moments in Aviation," Jeanette Winterson blends magical realism and historical fiction, weaving a tale of two women whose lives intertwine over the skies of 1920s Britain. Lily, a pioneering aviatrix, falls for Esther, a mysterious young woman with a dark past. As they navigate the rigid social norms of the era, their passion takes flight, defying the constraints that seek to ground them. Meanwhile, in "Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit," a young girl named Jeanette grapples with her sexuality and religious upbringing, finding solace in the stories she creates. Winterson's lyrical prose and vivid imagination transport readers to worlds where the ordinary and extraordinary collide, exploring themes of identity, love, and the power of the human spirit to soar.
Genres: literary-fiction, historical-fiction, 20th-century, magical-realism, 21st-century, aviation
Vibes: atmospheric, intimate, lyrical
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: Britain
Period: 1920s
256 pages · Paperback · Random House UK
Content warnings: homophobia