Lost Empires

"Set in the last yers of the England that vanished for ever after World War I, it tells the story of Richard Herncastle, an aspiring painter who travels the now-vanished music halls with his Uncle Nick, the half-lovable, half-monster, master illusionist. As they move between dingy lodging houses and decaying variety stages, Richard becomes caught in a triangle of love, temptation and sexual adventure."-- p. [4] of cover.