The City of Gold
The Story of Johannesburg
Francis Brett Young onderzocht thema's als traditie versus moderniteit, de invloed van het verleden op het heden en de zoektocht naar identiteit in een veranderende wereld. Zijn schrijven wordt gekenmerkt door een sterk gevoel voor plaats en sfeer, vaak gesitueerd tegen de achtergrond van het Engelse platteland of exotische locaties. Young verweefde meesterlijk karakterontwikkeling met bredere sociale en historische stromingen. Zijn romans, gewaardeerd om hun gedetailleerde proza en emotionele diepgang, bieden lezers een diep inzicht in de menselijke conditie.






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.