Set in a 'time of discovery, excitement, and intoxication with ideas', this breathes the very essence of the world in which Scott lived. Beautifully recreating the course of his life - his childhood, love of family, literary success, encounters with Wordsworth and Lord Byron, and later tragedies and financial disasters, Oliver brings to vivid life all the spontaneity and genius of this 'mighty magician who rolled back the current of time'.
‘Jane Oliver’ was the pen-name of Helen Evans (1903 - 1970). Formerly novelist Clemence Dane’s secretary, she developed a writing career, and wrote many successful novels with Ann Stafford (the pen-name of Anne Pedler). Business as Usual was their first joint novel.
Jane became a pilot and married the author John Llewelyn Rhys, who was killed in the war. She founded the Llewelyn Rhys Prize in his memory. She later lived in Hampshire near Anne Pedler, and cared for her in her illness.