Vanishing

More about the book

Set against the backdrop of London's Soho underworld and the 1930s art scene, this literary thriller follows the life of Kenneth Brill, a young British artist and camouflage officer, during and after World War II. As the war nears its end, Brill is arrested for painting landscapes near Heathrow Village, with authorities suspecting his work contains coded messages about a new military airfield. He insists he is simply capturing a landscape on the verge of disappearance. Through interrogation, Brill recounts his life, from his upbringing in the market gardens of The Heath to his experiences in the vibrant London art scene. However, darker revelations surface, including his entanglements with Soho's prostitutes and pimps, a break-in at a royal residence, and connections to notorious fascist sympathizers. The narrative questions Brill's true identity: is he the hero of El Alamein, known for a remarkable act of military deception, or the lover of fascist sympathizer Arturo Somarco? His expulsion from the Slade School of Fine Art and his involvement with Hillmead, a rural community linked to a friend of Hitler, add further intrigue. The story explores the perspective of a forgotten genius of modern art, whose keen artistic vision often blinds him to the realities around him.