In the grand hotels of Europe, a young boy spends his days around the rich, the influential, and the exiled.

His mother is absent, away on some unnamed journeys, but in her place are two powerful women who take him under their wings.

Around him are conversations of art and philosophy, politics and war. It's a rare grounding in the world, which leads to a rare book.

Red Heaven is the latest work by Nicolas Rothwell and it was recognised with the Prime Minister's Literary Award for Fiction.