Gerard Woodward Libri

From London's Soho underworld and the 1930s art scene to the battlegrounds of North Africa, a literary thriller following the exploits of an enigmatic camouflage officer—and brilliant painter—before and after World War II, by Booker Prize-nominated novelist Gerard Woodward. Toward the end of the World War II, young British artist Kenneth Brill is arrested for painting landscapes near Heathrow Village; the authorities suspect his paintings contain coded information about the new military airfield that is being built. Brill protests that he is merely recording a landscape that will soon disappear. Under interrogation a more complicated picture emerges as Brill tells the story of his life—of growing up among the market gardens of The Heath and of his life on the London art scene of the 1930s. But a darker picture also comes to light, of dealings with the prostitutes and pimps of the Soho underworld, of a break-in at a royal residence, and of connections with well-known fascist sympathizers at home and abroad. So who is the real Kenneth Brill? The hero of El Alamein who, as a camouflage officer, helped pull off one of the greatest acts of military deception in the history of warfare, or the lover of Italian futurist painter and fascist sympathizer Arturo Somarco? Why was he expelled from the Slade School of Fine Art? And what was he doing at Hillmead, the rural community run by Rufus Quayle, a friend of Hitler himself? Vanishing sees the world through the eyes of one of the forgotten geniuses of modern art, a man whose artistic vision is so piercing he has trouble seeing what is right in front of him.

Continues the story of the Jones family, introduced in the novel August

Ever since Aldous Jones careened over the handlebars of his bicycle in 1955 and landed next to Farmer Evans's first field, it has become a tradition for him to take his family camping in Wales. As the years pass, Aldous's family idyll starts to disintegrate and the farm becomes a place drenched in memory.

Aldous Jones, grieving the loss of his wife, initially succumbs to inertia in his empty home. However, a chance encounter with a Rembrandt painting reignites his passion for life, prompting him to explore new relationships and reconnect with his son in Belgium. His journey includes evening language classes and a series of humorous misadventures, ultimately leading him to discover a new romantic connection. This story blends themes of art, love, and personal reinvention, offering a perceptive exploration of life's complexities and the beauty found in everyday moments.

Performing a deft metaphorical evisceration of Sigmund Freud’s classic 1919 essay that delved deeply into the tradition of horror writing, this freshly contemporary collection of literary interpretations reintroduces to the world Freud’s compelling theory of das unheimliche —or, the uncanny. Specifically designed to challenge the creative boundaries of some of the most famed and respected horror writers working today—such as A. S. Byatt, Christopher Priest, Hanif Kureishi, Frank Cottrell Boyce, Matthew Holness, and the indomitable Ramsey Campbell—this anatomically precise experiment encapsulates what the uncanny represents in the 21st century. Masterfully narrated with the benefit of unique perspectives on what exactly it is that goes bump in the night, this chilling modern collective is not only an essential read for fans of horror but also an insightful and intriguing introduction to the greats of the genre at their gruesome best.

A much-anticipated collection from the Somerset Maugham Award winning poet.

Arnold Proctor's quiet life is thrown off balance when he falls obsessively in love with Vera, a religious woman and one of his wife's friends. Vera seems untroubled by her wrongdoing, yet faithless Arnold is wracked with guilt. He has never believed in God, but now he wonders if he truly believes in anything at all? Polly makes handcrafted paper, and even though the age of paper is dead, she runs a successful shop selling her exquisite products. Polly is secure and happy in her life, until the day her husband Arnold makes a very uncharacteristic declaration.

Ein fesselnder Roman über die Abhängigkeit zwischen Männern und Frauen. Tory, während des Krieges in London, kämpft mit Hunger und einer aufdringlichen Mutter. Ein Brief ihres in Gefangenschaft befindlichen Mannes Donald führt zu einer Affäre, die ihre Perspektive verändert. Als er zurückkehrt, muss sie ihn austrocknen.