"I have talent, but he has genius." Thus wrote Evelyn Waugh of William Gerhardie, who for a time was widely regarded as the most brilliant writer of his generation. Novels such as "Futility" and "The Polyglots" earned him the title of "the English Chekhov", and he was lionized by the likes of H.G.Wells, Katherine Mansfield, and Lord Beaverbrook, who delighted as much in his scandalous seductions as in his fiction. But the one-time darling of the literati ceased to publish in 1940 and died in obscurity in 1977. Dido Davies's portrait aims to capture the humour and sensitivity of this contradictory and outrageous man. It is aimed at general readers with interest in English literature, the literary world of 20th century, early 20th century history, Russia, and literary criticism.