A TALE of politics and romance is on the agenda when author Robert Ronsson launches his new novel at Bewdley Book Week.

Set in the early 20th century, No Mean Affair is the story of a young Glasgow housewife who meets an up-and-coming politician.

Robert, from Bewdley, was inspired to write the book when his father announced before his death that he might be the son of famous Glasgow politician John Wheatley, who had been poised to lead his party and probably the country before he died at the age of 60.

He said: “We grew up understanding that our father’s mother had abandoned her husband because he was a bit of a waster. Then this new family tree came along showing that our ‘real’ grandfather was a man who could have been Prime Minister.”

Since Robert was unable to prove whether or not Mr Wheatley really was his grandfather, No Mean Affair is a combination of historical fact and fiction.

The launch will take place on Wednesday, October 17 at the Cock & Magpie pub in Severnside North, Bewdley.

Book Week, in association with The Shuttle, began on Tuesday.

Other authors in attendance will be best-selling husband and wife crime writers Nicci Gerrard and Sean French, better known under their joint pseudonym Nicci French and Elkie Brooks, with her new autobiography, Finding My Voice.

There will also be a Book Drop, whereby readers can leave favourite books in bags around the town and others can take one, read the book, write a comment, and pass it on.