A political thriller set in South Africa in 2012, partly inspiredby the vicious real-life backlash to Brett Murrays painting, The Spear, which controversially depicted South Africas then-president, Jacob Zuma.

When a salacious piece of fiction about the president is published, the ruling party and its supporters are enraged. As pressure grows for the story to be erased, its young, queer author flees into hiding, carrying with him an explosive secret, and plans for revenge.

Xander Beattieis the fiction writing alter ego of journalist, arts critic and editor Alexander Matthews. He began his media career in London as an assistant toMONOCLEs editor-in-chief, and later served as the magazines Southern Africa correspondent. His journalism has been published by the BBC,Mail & GuardianandBusiness Dayamongst others.Born in Cape Town in 1988, he lives in a remote cabin in Northern California.The Presidentis his debut novel.