Wise Children

Angela Carter's 'Wise Children' is a dazzling, bawdy, and exuberantly theatrical novel that plunges into the tumultuous lives of Nora and Dora Chance, twin chorus girls celebrating their 75th birthday in Brixton. On the same day, their legendary father, Melchior Hazard – the greatest actor of his generation – turns 100 across the river in Chelsea, alongside his elusive twin, Peregrine. But the true parentage of the twins, like much else in their lives, is shrouded in mystery and delightful scandal. Narrated by Dora as she looks back on a life brimming with show business, illegitimacy, and a vibrant defiance of societal norms, the story unravels a rich tapestry of love, heartbreak, and resilience. From their unconventional upbringing to their enduring bond and careers on the stage, the Chance twins embody a joyful, chaotic spirit that questions identity, family, and the very nature of performance, all set against a richly imagined South London backdrop.