HISTORY OF WATER: Being an Account of a Murder, an Epic

A Times History Book of the Year 2022, we have the first edition described by the Sunday Times as 'Exhilarating and whip-smart' and by the award-winning historian. It is a thrilling true historical detective story set in 16th century Portugal. The book follows the interconnected lives of two men across the Renaissance globe; one an aficionado of mermen and Ethiopian culture, an art collector, historian and expert on water music, returns home from witnessing the birth of the modern age to die in a mysterious incident, apparently the victim of a grisly and curious murder. The other, a ruffian, vagabond and braggart, chased across the globe from Mozambique to Japan, ends up as the national poet of Portugal. The stories of Damiao de Gois and Luis de Camoes capture the extraordinary wonders that awaited Europeans on their arrival in India and China, the challenges these marvels presented to longstanding beliefs, and the vast conspiracy to silence the questions these posed about the nature of history and of human life. It is 30th January 1574, and the King's archivist lies dead - burned or strangled or drowned. The paper found in his hand could be from any corner of the Portuguese empire. But whatever it contains is probably a lie... Like all good mysteries, everyone has their own version of events. Beautifully written and utterly mesmerising with vivid characterisation of people and places, not least those of Lisbon life high and low. 344pp, woodcut illustrations and colour plates and maps and a note on quotations and Portuguese pronunciation.