The City of Gold
The Story of Johannesburg
Francis Brett Young a exploré des thèmes tels que la tradition face à la modernité, le poids du passé sur le présent et la quête d'identité dans un monde en mutation. Son écriture se caractérise par un fort sens du lieu et de l'atmosphère, souvent situé dans le contexte de la campagne anglaise ou de lieux exotiques. Young a magistralement mêlé le développement des personnages aux courants sociaux et historiques plus larges. Ses romans, appréciés pour leur prose détaillée et leur profondeur émotionnelle, offrent aux lecteurs un aperçu profond de la condition humaine.






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.