Talk & Book Signing with Author David Bissenden

David Bissenden, author of two novels; 'The French Emperors Woman' (2021) and 'Rivers of Silver' (2025), will be joining us at the St George’s Arts Centre at 1:30pm on Monday, 13th October.

David will give a short talk about his new novel, Rivers of Silver, followed by a Q&A session and will sign copies of his book which will be available to purchase.   

David’s first novel, The French Emperors Woman, is set almost entirely within Gravesend as it was in the 1870's.  His second book, Rivers of Silver, also features many locations along the Thames estuary which would be known by residents.

This is a free event, no need to book, just come along at 1:30pm. The event will last for 45 mins - 1hr.

Rivers of Silver 

This is the story of two worlds – Argentina and England- linked by one trade; the export of livestock. This provides the starting point for this novel, set in the ever changing world of the late Victorian era, when ruthless shipping magnets sought to make their fortune at any price.  Was part of this cost the murder of George and Joyce Hope in the Argentine, and the death of their son, 14 year old Fontaine Hope, on a deserted railway line on the Thames marshes a decade later? ….To find the perpetrators, and bring them to justice, Fontaine’s grandfather - Edward Hope- calls on the help of private detective, William Reeves.

From the inns of the City of London to the marshlands of Essex and beyond, Reeves travels to hunt down the likely culprit- Alfonso Romero, an Argentinean whose roots lay with the gaucho bandits of his home country. …These murders test Reeves ability, up to, and beyond, its limits; as a professional endeavour becomes ever more personal.

This novel is a sequel to ‘The French Emperors Women’, published by ‘Troubador’ 2021. – Some sample reviews for the book.

‘Elegantly written & historically researched …I have to commend the author for his delightful imagination & will definitely follow him in the future’. – Netgalley review

‘I rarely read fiction, but I enjoyed it greatly. The descriptions of Gravesend ,of Charles Gordon ay New Tavern Fort and the exciting scrapes the hero gets into makes this a great read…I would recommend this book as something to amuse and indeed shine a light on Gravesend’s often obscure maritime history. –Christoph Bull – Historian.