Win a signed copy of local author Simon Acland's latest novel "The Flowers Of Evil"

The Flowers of Evil continues the adventures of Hugh de Verdon, the crusader knight introduced in The Waste Land. It takes up his story in the early years of the Twelfth Century, a turbulent period when the victorious First Crusaders fought to hold on to the lands they had won in Outremer.

Unfinished business from The Waste Land takes Hugh on a journey of vengeance and fulfilment to Aleppo, Damascus, Petra and Jerusalem. He battles his old adversaries Baldwin of Boulogne, now King of Jerusalem, Hasan-i Sabbah and the Assassins, and encounters the Knights Templar.

Hugh's story is once again retold by the dons of St. Lazarus' College, Oxford. They have been delighted by the commercial success of The Waste Land and hope to repeat their achievement with The Flowers of Evil. They could not have foreseen the sinister and unexpected consequences.      

Charlwood Books, the publishing imprint behind this novel, is named after the Putney street in which it is located.

Simon Acland expects to be signing copies of his book in Waterstone’s in Putney Exchange at various times over coming weeks. He attributes his success in completing his first book entirely to the peace and quiet of his writing shed at the end of his Putney garden.

 Simon Acland talks about The Flowers Of Evil

June 28, 2011