The Fake's Distress

The death of George Parnell Kingsley came as a shock to Sebastian. He was losing not only a longtime friend but also his financial backer. George held almost all the equity in the business: the popular hotel was Sebastian's in name only. It really did seem that he was dogged by bad luck: first, Rhopos; now The Conyers. He need not have worried. In that peculiarly west of Ireland way, one thing would lead to another. To the surprise of everyone in the world of publishing, an unknown hotelier from Connemara would soon be launching a major new book prize. What kind of award? Worth how much? Who would be on the selection committee? How would jurors' egos be managed? The literati on both sides of the Irish Sea were mightily curious. The next chapter in the picaresque life of Sebastian Conyers was set to begin.