Continuation of the story of the von Beck family, telling about their further relations with Lucifer, the Prince of Darkness, and about the cure for the pains of the world. Chronicle two, which contains the confession of Manfred von Beck, captain of the cavalry of Washington's revolutionary army; deputy of the Republican Convention in France; as well as the first secretary of the Saxon embassy at the court of the Russian Empress Catherine. The said confession is devoted mostly to the description of Strange Events that happened in the city of Mirenburg in the winter of 1794. Translated, edited and prepared for publication by Michael Moorcock.

The novel about Manfred von Beck, who flees Paris during the French Revolution, ends up in the city of Mairenburg, where he participates in events related to the Grail. The book is written in the style of a picaresque novel, which is very unconventional for Moorcock. One of Moorcock's best books, despite the rather heavy language. THE PAIN OF THE WORLD II