Join us in conversation with Stephen May about his fantastic new historical novel, which explores the unsolved mystery of socialist politician Victor Grayson's disappearance in 1920. Intriguing, original and convincing, Green Ink is a Book to Look Out for in 2025 (The Times).
We're very much looking forward to welcoming Stephen May to talk about his vivid historical novel,
Green Ink. The story explores what could have happened to British socialist politician Victor Grayson, who vanished in 1920 after threatening to expose a government scandal.
Victor's disappearance remains an unsolved mystery to this day, and this fascinating imagining brings the historical details to life. This is a highly anticipated book which has been highlighted by
The Times in their
Books to Look Out for in 2025 list.
Book Blurb
Stephen May has a nose for fascinating historical events —
The Times
The spry, sardonic voice of the new historical fiction — Hilary Mantel
David Lloyd George is at Chequers for the weekend with his mistress Frances Stevenson, fretting about the fact that his involvement in selling public honours is about to be revealed by one Victor Grayson.
Victor is a bisexual hedonist and former firebrand Socialist MP turned secret service informant. Intent on rebuilding his profile as the leader of the revolutionary Left, he doesn’t know exactly how much of a hornet’s nest he’s stirred up. Doesn’t know that this is, in fact, his last day.
No one really knows what happened to Victor Grayson – he vanished one night in late September 1920, having threatened to reveal all he knew about the prime minister’s involvement in selling honours. Was he murdered by the British government? By enemies in the Socialist movement (who he had betrayed in the war)? Did he fall in the Thames drunk? Did he vanish to save his own life, and become an antiques dealer in Kent?
Whatever the truth,
Green Ink imagines what might have been with brio, humour and humanity; and is a reminder that the past was once as alive as we are today.
Vivid and wholly credible recreation of post-Great War London — Robert Edric
Intrigue, betrayal, redemption — Rachel Seiffert
About the Author
Stephen May is the author of six novels including
Life! Death! Prizes! which was shortlisted for the Costa Novel Award and
The Guardian Not The Booker Prize. He has been shortlisted for the Wales Book of the Year and is a winner of the Media Wales Reader’s Choice Award. He has also written plays, as well as for television and film.
His seventh novel,
Green Ink, is published in March 2025. He is also an experienced Creative Writing teacher and the author of
Write A Novel and Get It Published.
