The Dark Monarch 2nd edition

This is the 2nd edition and only reprint of the ‘withdrawn’ 1962 edition of Sven Berlin’s thinly veiled ‘novel’, exploring the lives and rivalries of the artistic community in St. Ives. This irreverent portrait of St Ives and the artists (and associates) includes many now world-famous names … Barbara Hepworth, Ben Nicholson, Bernard Leach, Peter Lanyon, Patrick Heron, to name just a few. This updated edition benefits from the author’s glossary of terms and real names previously unpublished, as well as some background information on the original publication. 

The original book was withdrawn very quickly after publication due to four libel suits which followed. There are some big names from the Cornish art scene, who are not represented well by Berlin and although it never went to court, the threat ceased the publication of the book.

Although Berlin, created new names for all the characters, it was fairly obvious at time, who was who. And if you’re less familiar there is now a key, that translates most of Berlin’s characters into their real-life personas.