The Devil's Paintbrush
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4.1 • 7 Ratings
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- £3.99
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- £3.99
Publisher 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.
Customer Reviews
Truthful, historical but most importantly a good story
An enjoyable fictionalised account of a meeting between Aleister Crowley and scandal rocked war hero Fighting Mac.
A good read and a very pleasant way to add a little morsel to my knowledge of British history. It is based on a small snippet of British colonial history, but reveals a great deal about the hypocrisy and corruption of the British upper classes.
McDonald comes across as a very sad victim of his time. If being gay was his problem, it was his humble background that was really his downfall. As this story reveals, there were many like him in the service, including many fellow heroes such as Kitchener, but their social standing protected them. They roundly condemn people like McDonald whilst hiding the same amongst their own.