Buckingham’s Bulgarian bandit
English-language historical fiction set in Bulgaria is not exactly widely available so fans of the genre will be thrilled with the latest novel from British writer and university lecturer Will Buckingham.
The Descent of the Lyre, due for imminent publication, plunges the reader into the music and folklore of Bulgaria, in a parable about storytelling, sainthood and myth-making.
Buckingham travelled extensively throughout Bulgaria in a bid to add authenticity to his story which takes place in the 19th century in the village of Gela, the legendary home of Orpheus.
Set against a background of vicious oppression by the Ottomans, The Descent of the Lyre tells the story of Ivan Gelski who takes to banditry and a life on the run to avenge the kidnapping of his wife on the eve of their wedding. But a chance encounter with a travelling guitarist, and the bloodshed that follows, set him on a musical journey through fame, martyrdom and legend.
The Descent of the Lyre, hailed by The Bookseller as a Bookseller’s Choice for August 2012 and praised as a “well-written” novel that “manages to blend history and myth”, is already available for pre-order on Amazon in the UK.
