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Renowned DJ, artist, and cultural provocateur Justin Robertson ventures back into the world of fiction with his second novel, The Trial of Jonah. A wildly imaginative and darkly humorous narrative, the book explores the tangled roots of creativity, the intangible magic of art and the dark larceny at the heart of all human endeavours.
Following the proceedings of the trial of Jonah Plantagenet—A son of a demon god sent on a holy mission to plunder history for its artistic treasures—the novel is an electrifying journey through time and culture. From the mists of prehistory to the underground scenes of late 20th-century counterculture, Jonah wreaks havoc across art, music, and philosophy, stealing brilliance from the likes of J.G. Ballard, Kandinsky, and even the Beatles. As his misdeeds mount, Jonah must finally confront the ultimate question: what does it mean to create when creation itself is an act of possession?
Robertson, celebrated for his contributions to the dance music world and his genre-defying artistry, brings the same boundary-pushing energy to his new novel. The Trial of Jonah is as much an ode to the creative process as it is a searing critique of its darker undercurrents. Infused with wit and absurdity, the novel draws on Robertson’s encyclopaedic knowledge of music, art, and history to weave a kaleidoscopic tale of rebellion, reinvention, and redemption.
“The Trial of Jonah is very loosely autobiographical,” Robertson reflects. “Although I've never visited the court of King John or saved the life of John Lennon, I have often reflected on the magic of creativity. Is the artist somehow in contact with some nebulous divine muse, or is it really the voice of music, canvas, the paint and the page that we should be listening to? For me art is best understood as a radical decentring of humanity. A process where the hidden voices of the world actually possess the artist and in so doing speak directly through brush stroke and kick drum. In this way the divine is in some ways ever-present, a latent aspect of all creation just waiting for a skilled thief to set it free. Jonah is a rogue and a bandit, but he’s also a reflection of every artist’s struggle with originality and influence.”
With a narrative that traverses Roman Britain, the arcades of Slough, and the birth of Acid House, The Trial of Jonah is as much a love letter to counterculture as it is a philosophical inquiry into the nature of art. Robertson’s distinctive voice—a blend of punk ethos, erudition, and irreverent humour—shines through on every page.
