Stephen May

THE TIMES BOOKS TO LOOK OUT FOR IN 2025'Stephen May has a nose for fascinating historical events' The Times'Very fine and fun novel' The Spectator'Skilfully orchestrates a large cast of both historical and fictional characters' Financial Times'The spry, sardonic voice of the new historical fiction' Hilary Mantel'Vivid and wholly credible recreation of post-Great War London' Robert Edric'Intrigue, betrayal, redemption' Rachel SeiffertDavid Lloyd George is at Chequers for the weekend with his mistress Frances Stevenson, fretting about the fact that his involvement in selling public honours is about to be revealed by one Victor Grayson. Victor is a bisexual hedonist and former firebrand socialist MP turned secret-service informant. Intent on rebuilding his profile as the leader of the revolutionary Left, he doesn’t know exactly how much of a hornet’s nest he’s stirred up. Doesn’t know that this is, in fact, his last day. No one really knows what happened to Victor Grayson – he vanished one night in late September 1920, having threatened to reveal all he knew about the prime minister’s involvement in selling honours. Was he murdered by the British government? By enemies in the socialist movement (who he had betrayed in the war)? Did he fall in the Thames drunk? Did he vanish to save his own life, and become an antiques dealer in Ken? hatever the truth, Green Ink imagines what might have been with brio, humour and humanity; and is a reminder that the past was once as alive as we are today.

THE TIMES BOOKS TO LOOK OUT FOR IN 2025''Stephen May has a nose for fascinating historical events'' The Times''Very fine and fun novel'' The Spectator''The spry, sardonic voice of the new historical fiction'' Hilary Mantel''Vivid and wholly credible recreation of post-Great War London'' Robert Edric''Intrigue, betrayal, redemption'' Rachel SeiffertDavid Lloyd George is at Chequers for the weekend with his mistress Frances Stevenson, fretting about the fact that his involvement in selling public honours is about to be revealed by one Victor Grayson. Victor is a bisexual hedonist and former firebrand socialist MP turned secret-service informant. Intent on rebuilding his profile as the leader of the revolutionary Left, he doesn’t know exactly how much of a hornet’s nest he’s stirred up. Doesn’t know that this is, in fact, his last day.No one really knows what happened to Victor Grayson – he vanished one night in late September 1920, having threatened to reveal all he knew about the prime minister’s involvement in selling honours. Was he murdered by the British government? By enemies in the socialist movement (who he had betrayed in the war)? Did he fall in the Thames drunk? Did he vanish to save his own life, and become an antiques dealer in Kent?Whatever the truth, Green Ink imagines what might have been with brio, humour and humanity; and is a reminder that the past was once as alive as we are today.

‘A deeply satisfying novel. Incisive, inventive, frequently very funny’ Guardian‘Historical facts furnish May with a cast of legends to bring to life, and he does it with verve and humour’ The Times‘Original, adept and confident ... I wish I had written it myself’ Hilary MantelWhen it’s time to hang the capitalists, they will sell us the rope.May 1907. Young Stalin – poet, bank-robber, spy – is in London for the 5th Congress of the Russian Communist Party. As he builds his power base in the party, Stalin manipulates alliances with Lenin, Trotsky and Rosa Luxemburg under the eyes of the Czar’s secret police. Meanwhile, he is drawn to the fiery Finnish activist Elli Vuokko – and risks everything in a relationship as complicated as it is dangerous.