George Best, Van Gogh, Elvis - there is something irresistible about tragic genius: a man and his talent caught at the mercy of the world until he inevitably implodes. The Pornographer of Vienna - the debut work by Britain's up-and-coming novelists Lewis Crofts - deals with just one such genius, though not a pop-star or footballer, rather the erotic painter Egon Schiele.

The front-cover has already caused controversy since the picture on the dust-jacket deftly exploits the dimensions to place part of the female anatomy on the spine of the book.

Crofts tells the story of how the renegade artist sticks two fingers up to the stately Viennese world around him in the early 1900s, revelling in a new kind of art and an older kind of decadence. Like a Maradonna or Doherty of his day, Schiele shakes up the establishment before inevitably falling from grace, which comes in a stint doing time for propagating indecent material.

The novel takes us from his provincial upbringing to his first clashes with authority in the staid art-world, all the time bringing the exuberance of the Habsburg Empire to life with glittering prose. What makes this book stand out is the way in which Crofts uses words to recreate the swirling intoxicating effects of Schiele's paintings.

But, despite a host of unspoken and inappropriate desires, Crofts never lets us turn against Schiele. He is a troubled but ultimately well-meaning artist, occasionally slipping up on his own ambition and ultimately falling victim to his own talent.

Schiele was the protégé of the other great Viennese painter, Gustav Klimt, and Crofts gives us a telling insight into turn-of-the-century Vienna and all its crude and debauched flavours. And although the racy title may suggest otherwise, this is not an apologia for top-shelf magazines but rather a look at the crippling passion of a genius artist, who was only posthumously branded a "pornographer".

Crofts leaves us with the impression that Schiele is seeing the human body through fresh eyes and it is only old-school prejudice and fear which sullies his name. Duly deserving of a place on Vogue's summer recommended reading list, don't be surprised if you see the book lined up opposite you in the Tube. Just try not to stare too much at the spine.

Here Is The Writer : Rob Heck

Rob Heck has worked in The City for seven years, and is an Equity Derivatives Trader at Lehman Brothers. He's one of the few people we know who's actually written a book, which makes him highly qualified to review one. His other interests include magic, massage chairs, Midori, Mexican and myoxia.

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