Described by Attila the Stockbroker as ‘Belloc meets Byron meets Chaucer’ renowned local poet Oliver Gozzard is set to publish his first book - a thriller with a literary twist.

The Commuter’s Tale is a thriller that follows the travails of a careworn commuter (known as Cam) who deserts his humdrum life to seek adventures with a rapper (a Lord Byron character known as B) whom he met on his daily commute.

The duo dart from Brighton, Lisbon, the Greek isles and Venice in an ancient ship, The Bolivar, where, along the way they are seduced by beautiful women get, unwittingly, mixed up in an illegal drugs cartel and are attacked on the high seas.

This modern adventure has been challengingly set in 200 stanzas, all inspired by the life and work of Byron, and all written by Gozzard on his daily commute.

Asked for his vision  behind the book, Gozzard says that he was inspired by “Byron's life, the courageous, reckless way he pursued his aims and dreams, the wondrous passion with which he lived, and partly by travelling up and down on the train between Lewes and London every day, and seeing the misery etched onto the faces of the commuters,”

It made me think of how much many of them would love to escape their humdrum lives and go on a voyage of discovery and adventure with an exciting free spirit such as Byron.”

The book is launched, appropriately enough, next weekend at the Runaway Café.

Definitely one to read and keep - it will certainly wile away those commuter blues.

The Commuter’s Tale by Oliver Gozzard is published by Desert Hearts on January 22 2011, and priced at £7.99 (€8.99) - also available from Waterstones, Amazon and in good bookshops.

Further accolades:

‘A rollicking odyssey of joy’  Radio 4 poet Elvis McGonagall

‘Oliver Gozzard has approached this challenge with initiative and a sense of humour’  Chocolat author Joanne Harris

 

‘I am delighted to support The Commuter’s Tale, and wish it every success’ Transport Minister and Lewes MP Norman Baker

 

‘I just couldn't do it justice!’ Jeremy Paxman