SHORTLISTED FOR THE NERO BOOK AWARD FOR FICTION 2025. SHORTLISTED FOR THE EDWARD STANFORD TRAVEL WRITING AWARD FOR FICTION 2026. SHORTLISTED FOR THE WINSTON GRAHAM PRIZE FOR HISTORICAL FICTION 2026. LONGLISTED FOR THE WALTER SCOTT PRIZE FOR HISTORICAL FICTION 2026. A BBC RADIO 2 BOOK CLUB PICK A BEST FICTION BOOK OF 2025. FOR THE GUARDIAN, THE OBSERVER, THE HERALD AND THE BBC. 'Crackles with creative rebellion' DOUGLAS STUART. 'immersive, intelligent, immensely sensual' ELIF SHAFAK. 'A tender and evocative act of resurrection' JAMES CAHILL, SPECTATOR. 'The greatest and truest story of two male lovers I have ever read' RUSSELL T DAVIES. 'Deeply affecting . . . vivid and moving' PETER PARKER, THE TIMES.

With the world on the brink of war, their unrivalled talent takes them all over Europe, partying, loving, fighting, painting.

The pair become stars as the bombs fall in this stunningly re-imagined true story of devotion and obsession, art and class.