THE ART OF THE BLADE
Jim Francis' return from California to Edinburgh for the funeral of his son – a son he barely knew – seems at first like an unpleasant event he cannot avoid. But things take a different dimension when he meets again after six years his family and old acquaintances of the underworld. The past awakens dark memories and another face slowly emerges, that of Frank Begbie, the ruthless killer, the ruthless criminal. A face that bears no resemblance to the quiet and loving family man of California.
THE ART OF THE BLADE
What secrets does this unexpected transatlantic journey hide? Will Frank be able to manage his anger and come out of the ordeal unscathed? Will he be the wonderful husband and sweet father, the gifted blade artist again? Jim Francis has long written off Frank Begbie. Or maybe not;
A dark, guilty pleasure. – The Times
All of Welsh's writing powers concentrated in a tightly bound, intelligent and impetuous book. – Daily Telegraph
An inventive, rivetingly vivid novel – The London Magazine
Welsh may have 'pulled it together' but he's still got it and The Art of the Blade proves it - Independent on Sunday
An ultra-violent odyssey into the darkest recesses of urban life – Hot Press
books by IRVINE WELSH published by OKZY publications
Read IRVINE WELSH's interview with Panagiotis Menegos here
Irvine Welsh was born in 1958 in Leith, a working-class district of Edinburgh where he spent the first years of his life. His first book, Trainspotting, published in 1993, was adapted to film and theater with great artistic and commercial success. His collection of short stories "The acid house", and the novels "Marabou stork nightmares" and "Ecstasy", were also adapted for theater and cinema.
He is also involved in writing plays and film scripts as well as journalism, having a permanent column in the "Daily Telegraph" newspaper and writing articles for "Loaded" magazine and "The Guardian" newspaper. He lives in Dublin.
