‘Betsy Tobin mesmerises…’       The Times 

 

‘One glimpse of the fantastical and seedy world of the Victorian circus and you’re utterly drawn in…Delightful and bittersweet.’  The Big Issue 

 

‘Tobin’s treatment of the animals is a triumph…Avoiding anthropomorphic cliché, she deftly portrays the discomfort of a lioness in the last stages of pregnancy, the awkwardness of her mate and the sheer, muscle-bound physicality of the creatures themselves.’  Daily Mail

 

‘Betsy Tobin has set her beautifully written second novel in a 19th-century London circus…Satisfying.’   Independent 

 

‘This novel can only be described in terms of something delicious like a real pavlova, full of wonderful layers for your intellectual teeth.  For me, good historical novels  are like good science fiction: they examine our fears, foibles and ways of thinking in a setting so different from our own, but through characters who feel like us, that we are forced to rethink.  This The Bounce does so well…a stunning novel and worth the contentrated reading it deserves.’              Historical Novels Review 

 

‘Betsy Tobin’s The Bounce is set amid the excitement of a 19th century English circus, moving convincingly between human and animal perspectives of events…A sad and powerful book, which leaves a strong emotional imprint.’     The Bookseller 

 

‘Spell-binding…a captivating work from a prize-winning author.’  Lancashire Evening Post

 

‘Worth rolling up for this darkly romantic book.’  Play