Olivier is a French aristocrat, the traumatized child of survivors of the Revolution. Parrot is the son of an itinerant printer who always wanted to be an artist but has ended up a servant. When Olivier sets sail for the New World, to save his neck from one more revolution - Parrot is sent with him, as spy, protector, foe and foil. Hardcover , 464 pages Published February 4th 2010 by Faber and Faber (first published October 26th 2009)