The Hounds of Samaria
Nigel Patten’s second published book creatively jumps from the 20th century to an ancient world and back again, as main character George Ghikas tries to unravel the mystery of his past and present life.
Shortly before WWII erupts, George Ghikas starts having recurring dreams about an unknown dancing girl. Because of his Greek ancestry, the military sends him behind enemy lines on occupied Crete with orders to organize partisan groups in the White Mountains. While George is performing this important work, he has hallucinations of the same dancing girl who has appeared so often in his dreams. Progressively, George is enmeshed in a 3,600-year-old world where it appears he was the victim of a human sacrifice ceremony that took place in a Minoan temple, now restored, located near his current base camp. The girl who has been haunting his dreams is the officiating priestess during the ancient sacrificial ceremony… until the temple is destroyed by an earthquake. Back in the 20th century, George risks death by reenacting the sacrificial ceremony of so long ago…until the temple is once again destroyed, this time by German bombs. View the Press Release
The Winter Should Pass
It is said that ‘The gods visit the sins of the fathers upon the children.’ The Winter Should Pass by Nigel Patten puts this biblical teaching to the test, when his character Issak fears that his son will end up paying for his crimes.
The book begins in 1886, when Issak flees his native Antwerp after committing a terrible crime. Settling in Snowdonia, nestled in the hills of northern Wales, he builds a home and family with Rachel, a gypsy. However, Issak remains haunted by his past, remembering both his crime and his one true love, Julie. He also cannot shake the belief that his eldest son, Pieter, will someday pay for his father’s sins. View the Press Release
Watch the Video Trailer
Under Table Mountain
A fascinating old lady recounting her life was the impetus for author Nigel Patten to pen this extraordinary memoir of the woman and her times. Under Table Mountain tells the story of Louise Juta, the youngest daughter of Sir Henry Juta, barrister and Speaker of the Cape House in South Africa.
The last decade of the 19th century were troubled years in South Africa. Tension between Britain and the two Boer republics, the Transvaal and the Orange Free State, increased until war became inevitable. Many notable figures passed through Cape Town during these years, including Rudyard Kipling, Robert Baden-Powell, Jan Smuts and Cecil Rhodes. All would visit Sir Henry’s home, “Mon Desir.”
The author met Louisa, known as Lady Luia Forbes, in Switzerland during the last years of her long life. As they played Scrabble, they discussed how she left South Africa in 1904 to go to school in England and never returned. Under Table Mountain is an unforgettable true story.
When grown, Louise leaves South Africa to be educated in England. It is as an adult in her final years of life that she meets the author Nigel Patten. For countless days, Patten and Louise meet to play Scrabble and during their conversations, the author is able to piece together valuable parts of history and the events leading up to a dramatic change of government in South Africa. View the Press Release
The Tide of Destiny
Turn back the clock to the time of Napoleon, as love, lust and danger take center stage in the stunning novel The Tide of Destiny. The story is set in 1799 through 1808 in Southern Switzerland and on the Ligurian coast of Italy.
Damien André Berra, son of a Swiss farmer, is exiled to northern Italy in the wake of Napoleon’s invasion in 1799. Inspired by a number of amorous adventures with five lovely women, Damien becomes a renowned linguist and short story writer. His writing is greatly influenced by his lovers, who make his exile more palatable.
This young man’s experiences during this turning point in history – on The Tide of Destiny – are set amidst the political events and the women he meets. View the Press Release
Les Molosses De Samaria
Ce conte insolite est le fruit d’une rencontre fortuite dans une cabane de montagne en Suisse. J’ai saisi l’occasion d’emprunter les expériences de son héros, un droit qu’un écrivain peut s’accorder de temps en temps. J’ai la conviction que l’histoire que je vais vous raconter a réellement eu lieu, bien qu’il y a tellement longtemps, pendant la Deuxième Guerre Mondiale. Un érudit, dont j’ai oublié le nom, prétendait que celui qui s’identifie avec ses propres croyances est probablement déséquilibré. Alors, je vous laisse le soin de tirer vos propres conclusions. Personnellement j’ai toujours été attiré par un degré raisonnable de déséquilibre. Georges Ghikas.