Stephen Maxwell has just retired from a lifetime spent teaching history at his alma mater. As he writes the official history of Blake's, a minor public school steeped in military tradition, he also reveals how, forty years ago, a secret conflict dating from the Second World War re-enacted itself among staff and pupils, when fascism once more made its presence felt in the school and the city, with violent and nightmarish results.

A dramatic evocation of time, place and a community closing ranks to conceal the truth.

About the Author
Sean O'Brien's poetry has received numerous awards, including the T.S. Eliot Prize, the Forward Prize (three times), the E.M Forster Award and the Roehampton Poetry Prize. His Collected Poems appeared in 2012. Europa is his ninth collection. His work has been published in several languages. His novel Once Again Assembled Here was published in 2016. He is also a critic, editor, translator, playwright and broadcaster. Born in London, he grew up in Hull. He is Professor of Creative Writing at Newcastle University and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.

Reviews
The sense of regretfully looking back through fading autumn sunlight on a life not really lived is wonderfully done * Daily Mail *
A compelling narrative . . . O'Brien is an acclaimed poet and his second novel is stylish and controlled * Sunday Times *
O'Brien's literary thriller is elegant, atmospheric and topical, with a dash of wry humour * Mail on Sunday *
A subtle, compassionate, quietly outraged novel ... reminds us how readily the conspiracy of the institution can become a refuge for the unspeakable * Guardian *



Book Information
ISBN 9781447219712
Author Sean O'Brien
Format Hardback
Page Count 320
Imprint Picador
Publisher Pan Macmillan
Weight(grams) 552g
Dimensions(mm) 242mm * 160mm * 30mm