About the Author

Louise Hoole was born in England, grew up on the remote Atlantic island of St Helena, and has spent many years in Africa. She is the author of seven books including Talking to the Ancestors (about East African art), Seven Wonders (about the world heritage sites of Tanzania), and The Mtwara Story (about deep-water exploration). She has contributed poetry to two collections (Street Level and Speaking Saint), and her first novel, Black Rock, explores the exile of Napoleon Bonaparte on St Helena (Barranca Press). Louise travels widely between Africa, Asia and Europe, and works as a freelance writer and editor for a range of clients from the BBC to the United Nations. She is currently completing a second novel, and a memoir about sailing the Pacific. For more information, please see www.louisehoole.com.

Reviews

Eloquent, beautifully written, grave and funny: all at once. Napoleon haunts the island, and the island haunts everyone else, including the novel's author... Black Rock reads as many things, and one of them is as a love letter to St Helena. - Fiona Shaw, author Tell it to the Bees & A Stone's Throw.