A man with a terrifying, violent history finds a new life as a reformed character - but he's put to the test when his past and present collide. That's the premise of the novel "The Blade Artist", by acclaimed Scottish writer Irvine Welsh. The dark and captivating thriller has just hit bookshelves in France ("L’Artiste au Couteau") and revives one of Welsh's most chilling yet iconic characters from the "Trainspotting" universe, Francis Begbie. The best-selling author speaks to Encore’s Richelle Harrison Plesse about Begbie, Renton, Sick Boy and Spud "gatecrashing" into his consciousness and bringing them back together for another adventure.