The Water Horse

Catherine Carreg has grown up a tomboy, spending her days racing her ponies with Deio, the drover's son, in a small Welsh village. But Catherine is consumed by a longing to escape the monotony of village life and, with Deio's help, runs away to London.

Alone in the unfamiliar bustle of the city, Catherine finds a position in a rest home for sick governesses in Harley Street, run by Miss Florence Nightingale. Then, as the nation is gripped by reports of the war in the Crimea, Catherine volunteers as a nurse - and her life changes beyond all recognition.

Arriving in Scutari, she is pitched into a living nightmare and, against the passion and heroism of one of the most traumatic wars in history, she is forced to grow up quickly and painfully and learn the hardest lessons of love and war.

“"Recent biography has debunked teh romance of Florence Nightingale as angelic 'Lady of the Lamp'...Julia Gregson breathes life into this new interpretation"”

A vivid tale of love and war - WOMAN & HOME - Fanny Blake

lively, atmospheric novel...the writing is skillful, vivd and explicit - SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Recent biography has debunked teh romance of Florence Nightingale as angelic 'Lady of the Lamp'...Julia Gregson breathes life into this new interpretation - GUARDIAN

a wonderful evocation of the rugged Welsh coastlne and Catherine's home life - HISTORICAL NOVELS REVIEW

Julia Gregson worked as a model for Hardie Amies before becoming a journalist. She was posted to Vietnam and India and then worked for Rolling Stone in New York. She has interviewed Muhammad Ali, Buzz Aldrin, Ronnie Biggs and Hollywood royalty. Married with one daughter and four step-children, she lives in Wales with two Welsh cobs, a Shetland and two dogs.

Catherine Carreg has grown up a tomboy, spending her days racing her ponies with Deio, the drover's son, in a small Welsh village. But Catherine is consumed by a longing to escape the monotony of village life and, with Deio's help, runs away to London.Alone in the unfamiliar bustle of the city, Catherine finds a position in a rest home for sick governesses in Harley Street, run by Miss Florence Nightingale. Then, as the nation is gripped by reports of the war in the Crimea, Catherine volunteers as a nurse - and her life changes beyond all recognition.Arriving in Scutari, she is pitched into a living nightmare and, against the passion and heroism of one of the most traumatic wars in history, she is forced to grow up quickly and painfully and learn the hardest lessons of love and war.

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