Faber & Faber Gee, M: The Scornful Moon

Wellington, 1935. James Tinling, a former Cabinet Minister, plans a political comeback, although a brash newcomer stands in his way. James has methods of dealing with upstarts, but is handicapped by secrets in his life. Eric Clifton, world-renowned moon scientist, has secrets too. He lives hot-bloodedly and is at war with patrician James. Sam Holloway, literary man and moralist, records their year - its sexual intrigues and sudden violence and its overturning of political norms. What role does the young poet Owen Moody play, and brothel madam Lily Maxey? There´s James´s daughter Charlotte too, desperately painting in a garden shed; and Sam with his dozen friends at work on a composite detective novel. Election day. Labour wins, crushing James´s party. His secrets are shockingly revealed. Maurice Gee´s new novel is as good as anything he has ever written. Constantly surprising the reader, it combines good old-fashioned drama with a master writer´s exquisite story-telling.