the aldens are exploring an old house in michigan when they arrive at the mansion they cant wait to start looking through all the rooms they find an old diary that tells that a diamond and pearl ring is hidden in the house the year is 1798 napoleons naval forces are amassing in the mediterranean preparing to annex egypt and it is there the newlypromoted commodore richard bolitho is sent with a small squadron of ships under his command grotesque and depraved and above all very funny ardal ohanlonrobert caligari is a thoroughly evil thirteenyearold who gets his kicks from kicking pigs afer a humiliating episode with a bacon butty robert realizes just how much he loathes the human race and his revenge is truly terrible this subversive horrorfantasy from tom baker exmonk exsailor and the ultimate doctor who is outrageous and funny and since the hardback was published in 1999 has gone on to become a cult classic it is illustrated throughout with bw line drawings from david roberts