Nicholai Hel was born in the turbulent China of the First World War, of an aristocratic mother and a mysterious German father, and educated in the spiritual gardens of a Japanese Go master. Surviving the destruction of Hiroshima he appears as the world's most consummate and artistic lover ? though better paid as an assassin. Genius, mystic, master of cultures and languages, Hel's secret is his determination to reach that rare personal purity and state of perfection known as Shibumi. Living in an isolated mountain stronghold with a beautiful Asian companion, he meets his most sinister enemy, a vast monolithic spy organization. The battle lines are drawn: merciless power and corruption on one side, and on the other?Shibumi? AUTHOR: Trevanian's books have been translated into more than fourteen languages and have sold millions of copies worldwide. He died in 2005. SELLING POINTS ? 4th in series of Old St Trevanian reissues, after success of The Summer of Katya and The Eiger Sanction ? Stylish Bond-esque ?meta-spy' thriller ? Huge bestseller on first release in 1979 REVIEWS: ?One hell of a pleasure to read? ? Washington Post ?Trevanian can write hoops around Ian Fleming? - Boston Globe ?Trevanian is primarily interested in giving the reader a good time, and he resoundingly succeeds.? - New York Times Book Review
