 Nan 's path through the plot indicates that Tipping the Velvet is part Bildungsroman , and her journeys through the streets of London invoke elements of a picaresque novel . Scholar Emily Jeremiah characterises the story as a Bildungsroman : a coming @-@ of @-@ age adventure but one that far surpasses a simple coming @-@ out story . Stefania Ciocia in Literary London writes that the plot has classical elements of a fairy tale as it follows the main character 's growth and progression , and has a moral ending that includes a course of events where Nan forsakes three suitors for her — in this case — Princess Charming . Nan finds true love with Florence , who is a bit dowdy , somewhat stout , certainly not wealthy , and driven to improve the world ; the least likely of all the characters . A review in Publishers Weekly states that the series of events leading to Nan finding love are " unpredictable and moving " . 
