The Life and Amours of the Beautiful, Gay and Dashing Kate Percival

A vivid, first‑person memoir opens with Kate Percival’s childhood along the banks of the Delaware, where a stern, silent father and a grieving aunt raised her and her brother in a house shadowed by river mist and winter winds. The narrative paints the stark beauty of their isolated world, the tender bond between siblings, and the quiet yearning that fills the gaps left by parental affection. Kate’s voice is candid yet careful, promising to lay bare a life of pleasure without resorting to coarse language.

When Kate is ten, a sudden departure to a boarding school in Philadelphia promises escape from the gloom of home. In the disciplined halls of the seminary she feels out of place—reserved, uninterested in typical girlish pastimes, and more drawn to books than to sport. These early chapters set the stage for the daring choices and vibrant experiences that will shape the rest of her remarkable journey.