The Devil's Paintbrush
Published on 4. February 2010
Book
Paperback/Softback
304 pages
978-0-340-92271-2 (ISBN)
Description
'A consummate performance...virtuoso' Guardian
A fascinating, unusual and seductive historical novel by the bestselling author of The Long Firm.
In a Parisian restaurant, Aleister Crowley, the notorious occultist, chances on Major-General Sir Hector Macdonald: once one of the greatest heroes of the British Empire, now facing ruin in a shocking scandal - and vulnerable to Crowley's curious offer of help. An extraordinary night of transgression and revelation ensues . . .
Probing beneath the surface of Victorian conformity, this is an enthralling tale of imperialism, sexuality and the nature of belief, which captures a world on the brink of a brutal new era.
A fascinating, unusual and seductive historical novel by the bestselling author of The Long Firm.
In a Parisian restaurant, Aleister Crowley, the notorious occultist, chances on Major-General Sir Hector Macdonald: once one of the greatest heroes of the British Empire, now facing ruin in a shocking scandal - and vulnerable to Crowley's curious offer of help. An extraordinary night of transgression and revelation ensues . . .
Probing beneath the surface of Victorian conformity, this is an enthralling tale of imperialism, sexuality and the nature of belief, which captures a world on the brink of a brutal new era.
Reviews / Votes
Brilliantly expansive and original * <i>Daily Mirror</i> * A consummate performance...a virtuoso work of near history, with the occasional in-joke thrown in for good measure...immensely enjoyable * <i>Guardian</i> * One of the many pleasures of this skilful book is the maintenance of suspense...Arnott does not ask us to choose between [Crowley and Macdonald] - but much of the moral force of this excellent book lies in his demonstration that there is, nonetheless, a choice to be made. * <i>Independent</i> * A great read, full of compassion, humour and riveting detail. * <i>Sunday Express</i> * Arnott's great leap forward...Macdonald's predicament is sympathetically examined and Crowley's monstrous drive is brilliantly rendered...it is his best [novel] * <i>The Herald</i> * Arnott is clearly having fun here...So to combine that with how the necessity to be good - to be a hero - can be as suffocating a pressure as battling with occultist demons makes The Devil's Paintbrush a fine book * <i>Metro</i> *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Hodder & Stoughton
Product notice
Paperback (UK-B)
Illustrations
None
Dimensions
Height: 197 mm
Width: 129 mm
Thickness: 33 mm
Weight
211 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-340-92271-2 (9780340922712)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Person
Born in 1961, Jake Arnott lives in London. His first novel, The Long Firm, was a major critical and popular success. It was subsequently made into a BBC TV series, which was nominated for two BAFTA awards. His second novel, He Kills Coppers, was also made into a series by Channel 4. He has since published the novels truecrime, Johnny Come Home, The Devil's Paintbrush, The House of Rumour and, most recently, The Fatal Tree.