JACKET NOTES: This is a simple birthday present, an old book. It includes "The Works of Virgil" translated by John Dryden, 1730 edition. Peter White already has a copy, yet he becomes fascinated when he notices that all the illustrations have been replaced with subtly altered versions. Examining the differences he uncovers a secret text written by Leonardo da Vinci describing a highly effective cryptographic technique. Intrigued, not only by the text itself, but by why it had been hidden in this book, Peter pursues its provenance and finds himself drawn into two different worlds through two very different manuscripts both protected by this code. One, described in a diary penned by Leonardo himself, charts the genius' descent into despair and disillusionment as he strives to fulfil a commission from a powerful cardinal, all the while struggling with spiritual and philosophical challenges to his beliefs. The other, a lost Jacobite manifesto from the '45 Rising, presents a confession from Queen Anne revealing a scandal that undermines the Act of Settlement and hence the very legitimacy of the British Monarchy, even today.
(© Alnpete Press)