Book description
When the previous incumbent in the parish of Wodden commits suicide in
mysterious circumstances, Julian Snow, an immensely gifted young
Catholic priest, is sent to take his place. Wodden is the home of a
number of prominent Catholics, including a powerful Tory politician and
an old Catholic family, the Trevellyans, whose ancestral seat, Flamstead
House, dominates the village. One of Father Snow's duties is to say Mass
at Flamstead and he dicovers that the ancient legends about Everard
Trevellyan, the third Earl of Wodden, are still current in the village.
Monstrous in size, dissipated in morals, Everard is said to have preyed
on the local children. Soon after Father Snow has become convinced that
there are good reasons for the continuing currency of the legend, that
something very sinister indeed is happen-ing at Flamstead. And.
furthermore, he has fallen in love. . . A compel-ling and atmospheric
modern Gothic novel, and a moving exploration of a priest's crisis of
faith, THE OGRE'S LABORATORY is an immensely impressive achievement.
Louis Buss was born in 1963. He studied politics at Durham University
and until recently, worked as a teacher. His first novel,
The Luxury of Exile,
won a Betty Trask award in 1996.
