Semi-Invisible Man

<p>Norman Lewis was the best not-famous writer of his generation, and a better writer than almost all who were. From the 1950s to the 1990s, he wrote books that have survived better than all but a handful of novels. For twenty years Lewis spied for the British government, raced Bugattis before the war, lived in Ibiza after it, and was a crack shot, flamboyant host, and businessman with Mafia connections. Julian Evans’ portrait is a fascinating personal account of a suburban fugitive and adventurer; a writer of unsurpassed humour, wisdom and compassion for the ridiculous; the Defoe of our times.<br><br> ''Magnificent . . . meticulous, spirited and colourful . . . a triumph'' Jason Webster, <i>New Statesman </i><br><br> ''An excellent literary biography about one of the truly outstanding writers of our time . . . Sensitive and perceptive'' Patrick Marnham, <i> Daily Mail</i></p>