Old Baggage: Shortlisted for the Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize for Comic Literature 2019

As featured on BBC Radio 4 Good Reads 'The work of a novelist in her prime' Daily Telegraph 'Wise and witty' Sarah Hughes, Observer 'Essential . . . Evans is a brilliant storyteller' Stylist 'A timely, bittersweet comic novel' Guardian 'A thoughtful, funny, companionable novel' Sunday Times _______________________________ What do you do next, after you've changed the world? It is 1928. Matilda Simpkin, rooting through a cupboard, comes across a small wooden club - an old possession of hers, unseen for more than a decade. Mattie is a woman with a thrilling past and a chafingly uneventful present. During the Women's Suffrage Campaign she was a militant. Jailed five times, she marched, sang, gave speeches, smashed windows and heckled Winston Churchill, and nothing - nothing - since then has had the same depth, the same excitement. Now in middle age, she is still looking for a fresh mould into which to pour her energies. Giving the wooden club a thoughtful twirl, she is struck by an idea - but what starts as a brilliantly idealistic plan is derailed by a connection with Mattie's militant past, one which begins to threaten every principle that she stands for. Old Baggage is a funny and bittersweet portrait of a woman who has never, never given up the fight. As Featured On Bbc Radio 4 Good Reads 'a Timely, Bittersweet Comic Novel' Guardian What Do You Do Next, After You’ve Changed The World? ____________________ It Is 1928. Matilda Simpkin, Rooting Through A Cupboard, Comes Across A Small Wooden Club – An Old Possession Of Hers, Unseen For More Than A Decade. Mattie Is A Woman With A Thrilling Past And A Chafingly Uneventful Present. During The Women’s Suffrage Campaign She Was A Militant. Jailed Five Times, She Marched, Sang, Gave Speeches, Smashed Windows And Heckled Winston Churchill, And Nothing – Nothing – Since Then Has Had The Same Depth, The Same Excitement. Now In Middle Age, She Is Still Looking For A Fresh Mould Into Which To Pour Her Energies. Giving The Wooden Club A Thoughtful Twirl, She Is Struck By An Idea – But What Starts As A Brilliantly Idealistic Plan Is Derailed By A Connection With Mattie’s Militant Past, One Which Begins To Threaten Every Principle That She Stands For. Old Baggage Is A Funny And Bittersweet Portrait Of A Woman Who Has Never, Never Given Up The Fight. ____________________ 'essential . . . Evans Is A Brilliant Storyteller' Stylist Lissa Evan's Upcoming Novel, V For Victory Is Available For Pre-order Now. "It is 1928 and Matilda Simpkin, now in her late fifties, rooting through the boot cupboard, finds a small club in an old pair of galoshes. Giving it a thoughtful twirl she is finally struck by an idea. Mattie is a woman with a thrilling past and a chafingly uneventful present. During the Women's Suffrage Campaign, she marched, she sang and she heckled Winston Churchill. She was gaoled nine times. But she is still searching for a fresh mould into which she can pour her energies. Nothing - nothing - since then has had the same depth, the same level of excitement. After all, what do you do next after you've changed the world?"--Provided by publisher **'The work of a novelist in her prime' __Daily Telegraph__** **'Wise and witty' Sarah Hughes, __Observer__** **'Essential . . . Evans is a brilliant storyteller' __Stylist__** It is 1928. Matilda Simpkin, rooting through a cupboard, comes across a small wooden club – an old possession of hers, unseen for more than a decade. Now in middle age, she is still looking for a fresh mould into which to pour her energies. Giving the wooden club a thoughtful twirl, she is struck by an idea – but what starts as a brilliantly idealistic plan is...