''Witty, satirical and deftly malicious'' Anthony Burgess

Described by the New York Times upon her death as ''one of Britain''s best-known novelists'', delve into the sparkling and satirical world of Pamela Hansford Johnson with this wickedly funny tragicomedy about a destitute English author living in Bruges.

''A maliciously witty account of literary skulduggery and loft pretensions.'' TLS

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Daniel Skipton is a literary genius - at least, that''s what he''ll tell you.

A tortured artist living in Bruges on money donated by others (a distant relative, the daughter of his landlady, his exasperated, long-suffering publishers), he dreams of the time his talent will once again be truly appreciated and spends days working on his masterpiece.

Between charitable bequests, he preys on tourists, accepting hospitality and tricking them into parting with their money; and when an Italian aristocrat arrives, he recognises an opportunity to earn even more.

But is it time for the conman to be conned?

A wickedly funny novel, and one in which you will always find yourself on the side of the undeniably unspeakable Skipton.

''Very funny'' Independent

''If this is not a great book, then I don''t know what greatness is.'' Edith Sitwell

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Praise for Pamela Hansford Johnson:

''Witty, satirical and deftly malicious'' Anthony Burgess

''A remarkable craftswoman'' A.S. Byatt

''Hansford Johnson at her wittiest is Waugh mingled with Malcolm Bradbury Ruth Rendell

''A writer whose memory fully deserves to be kept alive'' Jonathan Coe