The Book
by and ©2011 Jack Kendle. All rights reserved
I am grateful to the distinguished artist, Maurice Heerdink, for his permission to reproduce three of his excellent pictures, without which this story would be the poorer. No further reproduction is permitted without the express permission of the artist, whose copyright these pictures are. They are annotated with his name at his request.
Other images are, to the best of the author's knowledge, in the Public Domain. If, however, you feel that an image reproduced in this story is in breach of copyright and can be proven to be so, the image in question will be removed.
TO THE READER
Although most of the places and locations described here are real, this does not mean that the persons represented here or the actions described in this story actually took place at these real locations, nor should it be inferred. The locations are used purely for atmosphere and veracity. The story is of course fiction from beginning to end and similarly, all characters are fictitious and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
The story contains scenes of man/boy sexual relations, some of which are non-consensual, which may upset some readers and this being the case, they are advised not to read any further. Similarly, if the reading or downloading of such material contravenes laws or regulations in your community, state or country, then you do so at your own risk.
DRAMATIS PERSONÆ
The Present
Peter Taylor, 23 — Book illustrator and main protagonist
Jeremy, his current lover — Lawyer (takes no direct part in the action)
Sebastian Walker mid 30's — Portrait photographer, a neighbour
Dr Jerzy Szczepkowski — Peter's downstairs neighbour (takes no part in the action)
Albert Pennyweather, 70+ — A regular at "The Crown" – Peter's local pub
Simon Stafford-Jones 50+ — Retired professional singer
Lars, 16 — Peter's young friend and eventually, his lover
Stanhope Robertson 80+ — Retired organist & choirmaster
Lancelot Cruickshank Deceased. — Former Rector at St Giles Church
DCI Morrison — Police detective, London
DS Richards — his sergeant (London)
DS Barnes — Police detective, Bournemouth
Sergeant Villiers — Policeman (Bournemouth)
Joshua Hallam — Peter's agent
Hugo Montagu 14th — Earl of Pevensey
Phyllida, Lady Pevensey — his wife
Kieran Montagu, 13 — their son
Ambrose — butler to the Pevensey household
Dr. Towns — Archeologist
Douglas Champneys — current Rector of St. Giles
The Past
Man in bookshop
Izaak Waldon, author
Tom Thatcher, about 12 y.o. ( takes no direct part in the action )
Philip J.W. Montagu — 3rd Earl of Pevensey
John Montagu, 2nd Earl, Philip's father
James Venables, 14 y.o. — Apprentice, son of
Edward Venables, 46 — Master mason
Will Fremantle, 13 — chorister at St. Giles, diarist
