The King's Engraver: A tale of art, espionage and crime - Paperback

by Chris Lethbridge (Author)

In 18th century London and Paris, William Wynne Ryland is a brilliant engraver.

The British King, George III and Queen Charlotte demand his services. The French have other plans for him.

His only choice is to seek his fortune in a shadow world of spies and sharp-dealers.

A life of ease and plenty is just out of reach. One high-risk venture follows another. Papermoney has its temptations but forgery is a

hanging crime. Could his engraving lead to riches or to the scaffold?

The King's Engraver is inspired by the life story of a supremely talented man at the heart of a louche art world. William is feted in both Georgian London and pre-revolutionary Paris. But these are challenging times. France and Britain are rivals in art and war.

William weaves his way between fearful threats of invasion and the promise of fortunes to be made where art and money meet.

This is biographical historical fiction, the fruit of years of research, filling in the gaps between the evidence to draw out the emotional

force that drives William towards a destiny that belies the promise of his glittering career.

Enjoy this tale of one man and two cities, featuring an international cast of characters from the Comte de Broglie, the head of Louis XV's secret spy network to Angelica Kauffmann, one of only two female founders of the Royal Academy.