The City of Gold
The Story of Johannesburg
Francis Brett Young ha esplorato temi quali il contrasto tra tradizione e modernità, il peso del passato sul presente e la ricerca dell'identità in un mondo in evoluzione. La sua scrittura è caratterizzata da un forte senso del luogo e dell'atmosfera, spesso ambientata nello scenario della campagna inglese o di località esotiche. Young ha intrecciato magistralmente lo sviluppo dei personaggi con correnti sociali e storiche più ampie. I suoi romanzi, apprezzati per la prosa dettagliata e la profondità emotiva, offrono ai lettori uno sguardo profondo sulla condizione umana.






The Story of Johannesburg
Francis Brett Young's new novel has a wider scope than any he has hitherto written. It's setting covers not only the Shires and Welsh marshes, but also Mayfair and Bloomsbury, and as an incident the theatre of war in German East Africa. It's characters (there are no less than ninety four recognizable dramatis personae) range from "country" magistrates to men of letters and the humbler citizens of a back street in London. Against this background, the central figure Jim Redlake proceeds from adolescence to maturity as a type of normal English youth and manhood.
Set against the backdrop of the 1960s, this novel delves into the life of Frances Shea, who became entangled with the notorious Kray Twins. Initially drawn to a glamorous lifestyle filled with nightclubs and luxury, Frances soon faced the brutal reality of violence and addiction that defined her world. Despite attempts to escape, her connection to Reggie Kray proved inescapable, culminating in a tragic marriage that ended with her overdose. The narrative uncovers the truth behind their relationship and its lasting impact on her family and loved ones.