A Trick of the Light

by Sebastian Faulks

Set at the time of writing, this novel tells the story of George Grillet, a young Frenchman who works in the wine business and has come to London on compassionate leave. He is persuaded to run what he believes is an innocent errand, which involves stealing a cassette tape from a warehouse in the then-undeveloped Isle of Dogs in east London. This was the first novel Sebastian Faulks published.

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1984

About the author

Sebastian Faulks is a British novelist, journalist, and broadcaster best known for his acclaimed historical novels set in France, including The Girl at the Lion d'Or, Birdsong, and Charlotte Gray. Alongside these, he has written contemporary fiction, a James Bond continuation novel (Devil May Care), and a Jeeves homage (Jeeves and the Wedding Bells). A former literary editor and journalist, Faulks gained widespread recognition with Birdsong, which solidified his literary reputation. He has also appeared regularly on British media, notably as a team captain on BBC Radio 4's The Write Stuff, and authored the TV tie-in Faulks on Fiction. Honored as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and appointed CBE for his services to literature, Faulks continues to publish widely, with The Seventh Son released in 2023.