The Devil’s Paintbrush
Author: Jake Arnott
Publisher: Sceptre
Price: $24.95 (Paperback)
The late 19th century military successes of Scottish-born Hector MacDonald netted him the nickname “Fighting Mac” in the British army. But soon he’d be known as Major-General Sir Hector MacDonald, a designation awarded during career-making battles in the Middle East and South Africa.
In fact-based-fiction novel The Devil’s Paintbrush, Jake Arnott takes this real-life figure and recreates his final days, when his reputation was destroyed by allegations of homosexuality. With the occultist Aleister Crowley, MacDonald delves into the black-magic elements of Paris in 1903, leading to revelations about sexuality and imperialism.