A Curious Earth

The final part of the trilogy dealing with the Jones Family. It centres on the experiences of the father of the family, Aldous Jones, and his attempts to rebuild his life after the deaths of his wife and eldest son. Part of its originality consists in the way it explores issues of ageing and sexual desire. Aldous's quest for sexual fulfilment challenges stereotypes of old age. The novel considers parallels between the life of Aldous Jones and that of the artist Rembrandt. It thus offers new interpretations of the life and work of the painter, in particular his relationship with his mistress, Hendrickje Stoffels, and is especially rigorous in its depiction of Rembrandt's life. The novel also contains a meticulously researched depiction of the Belgian seaport of Ostende, which has not featured prominently in the English novel before. The theme of the house which is continuous throughout the trilogy, is developed in an unusual way when Aldous decides to turn his home into a commercial art gallery. A theme of vivified statuary is used in an original way, with references to The Winters' Tale and Mozart's Don Giovanni. To be published as Vintage paperback in 2008.,