Items related to Fortunes of France: The Brethren
A poetic evocation of the French diplomat’s encounters and experiences, filtered through the one constant in his life?Venice.
Diplomat, writer and poet, traveller and socialite, friend of Proust, Giraudoux and Malraux, Paul Morand was out of the most original writers of the twentieth century. He was French literature's globe-trotter, and his delightful autobiography is far from being yet another account of a writer's life. Instead it is a poetic evocation of certain scenes among Morand's rich and varied encounters and experience, filtered through the one constant in his life?the one place to which he would always return?Venice.
Admired both by Ezra Pound and by Marcel Proust as a pioneer craftsman of Modernist French prose (...) The sheer shapeliness of his prose recalls Hemingway; the urbanity of his self-destructiveness compares with Fitzgerald's; and his camera eye is as lucidly stroboscopic as that of Dos Passos. He is, like Victor Segalen, Blaise Cendrars, Valery Larbaud, and Saint-John Perse, one of the great nomads of 20th-century French literature, racing through the apocalypse with the haste and glamor of an Orient Express. It is a pity we should have had to wait this long to catch up with him. --The New York TimesVenices is balanced by the sharpness of the imagery. He writes in a melancholy vein of the loves, jealousies and regrets he has experienced in Venice ... Exquisitely translated, Venices is a travel memoir of the highest order. -- IAN THOMSON, Sunday Times
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
About the Author:
Robert Merle (1908-2004) was born in French Algeria, before moving to mainland France in 1918. Originally an English teacher, Merle served as an interpreter with British Expeditionary Force during the Second World War, and was captured by the German army at Dunkirk, the experience of which served as the basis for his Goncourt-prize-winning Weekend at Zuydocoote. He published the 13 volumes of his hugely popular Fortunes of France series over four decades, from 1977 to 2003, the final volume appearing just a year before his death of a heart attack in 2004.
Review:
"Swashbuckling historical fiction... For all its philosophical depth [The Brethren] is a hugely entertaining romp... The comparisons with Dumas seem both natural and deserved and the next 12 instalments [are] a thrilling prospect." — Guardian
"A vivid novel by France's modern Dumas... [there is] plenty of evidence in the rich characterisation and vivid historical detail that a reader's long-term commitment will be amply rewarded." — Sunday Times
"Cleverly depicts France’s epic religious wars through the intimate prism of one family’s experience. It’s beautifully written too." — Metro.
"We're swept away by triumph, tragedy, action and adventure... It's a novel like this that makes reviewing one of the best jobs in the world." — The Book Bag, Five Star Review
"His readers appreciate his recipe for writing that is as political as it is entertaining." -- Deutschlandfunk
"Be warned: even just a few pages can lead to addiction." -- Neckar-Tauber Trend
"With much wit, irony and a knack for juicy details, [Merle] brings alive his country's history." -- Literatur-Report
"For fans of historical fiction, The Brethren is a delight to savour." -- Thüringer Allgemeine
"A spectacular evocation of sixteenth- and seventeenth-century France." -- Independent
"Thrilling! Robert Merle rides his novel at full tilt across a richly eventful period of history." -- Le Magazine Littéraire
"Robert Merle is one of the very few French writers who have attained both popular success and the admiration of critics." -- Le Figaro
"A wonderful, colourful, breathlessly narrated historical panorama." -- Zeitpunkt
"A master of the historical novel." -- Guardian
"Breathes new life into the classic adventure story and great historical epic." -- Les Nouvelles Littéraires
"France's greatest popular novelist." -- Le Monde
"The Dumas of the twentieth century." -- Neues Deutschland
"A vivid novel by France's modern Dumas... [there is] plenty of evidence in the rich characterisation and vivid historical detail that a reader's long-term commitment will be amply rewarded." — Sunday Times
"Cleverly depicts France’s epic religious wars through the intimate prism of one family’s experience. It’s beautifully written too." — Metro.
"We're swept away by triumph, tragedy, action and adventure... It's a novel like this that makes reviewing one of the best jobs in the world." — The Book Bag, Five Star Review
"His readers appreciate his recipe for writing that is as political as it is entertaining." -- Deutschlandfunk
"Be warned: even just a few pages can lead to addiction." -- Neckar-Tauber Trend
"With much wit, irony and a knack for juicy details, [Merle] brings alive his country's history." -- Literatur-Report
"For fans of historical fiction, The Brethren is a delight to savour." -- Thüringer Allgemeine
"A spectacular evocation of sixteenth- and seventeenth-century France." -- Independent
"Thrilling! Robert Merle rides his novel at full tilt across a richly eventful period of history." -- Le Magazine Littéraire
"Robert Merle is one of the very few French writers who have attained both popular success and the admiration of critics." -- Le Figaro
"A wonderful, colourful, breathlessly narrated historical panorama." -- Zeitpunkt
"A master of the historical novel." -- Guardian
"Breathes new life into the classic adventure story and great historical epic." -- Les Nouvelles Littéraires
"France's greatest popular novelist." -- Le Monde
"The Dumas of the twentieth century." -- Neues Deutschland
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
- PublisherPushkin Press
- Publication date2035
- ISBN 10 1782270442
- ISBN 13 9781782270447
- BindingPaperback
- Number of pages416
- Rating
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Fortunes of France : The Brethren
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(2013)
ISBN 10: 1782270442
ISBN 13: 9781782270447
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Book Description Condition: Good. Former library book; may include library markings. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages. Seller Inventory # GRP87305720
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The Brethren (Fortunes of France)
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Book Description Condition: Very Good. This book is in very good condition and will be shipped within 24 hours of ordering. The cover may have some limited signs of wear but the pages are clean, intact and the spine remains undamaged. This book has clearly been well maintained and looked after thus far. Money back guarantee if you are not satisfied. See all our books here, order more than 1 book and get discounted shipping. . Seller Inventory # 7719-9781782270447
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Book Description Paperback. Condition: Very Good. The Perigord of sixteenth-century France is a wild region on the edge of the reaches of royal authority-its steep, forested valleys roamed by bands of brigands and gypsies, its communities divided by conflict between Catholics and converts to the new Protestant faith, the Huguenots. To this beautiful but dangerous country come two veterans of the French king's wars, Jean de Siorac and Jean de Sauveterre, The Brethren-as fiercely loyal to the crown as they are to their Huguenot religion. They make their home in the formidable chateau of Mespech, and the community they found prospers, but they are far from secure-religious civil war looms on the horizon, famine and plague stalk the land, and The Brethren must use all their wits to protect those they love from the chaos that threatens to sweep them away. The Brethren is the first volume in the epic historical drama Fortunes of France-a lusty, exhilarating blend of adventure and romance set against the backdrop of a critical period in European history. 'Swashbuckling historical fiction. For all its philosophical depth [The Brethren] is a hugely entertaining romp. The comparisons with Dumas seem both natural and deserved and the next 12 instalments [are] a thrilling prospect' Christobel Kent, Guardian 'A vivid novel by France's modern Dumas. [there is] plenty of evidence in the rich characterisation and vivid historical detail that a reader's long-term commitment will be amply rewarded' Sunday Times 'The mainstay of the novel is swashbuckling action. What stands out is Merle's eye for detail' Spectator 'We're swept away by triumph, tragedy, action and adventure. It's a novel like this that makes reviewing one of the best jobs in the world.' Bookbag, Five Star Review 'Cleverly depicts France's epic religious wars through the intimate prism of one family's experience. It's beautifully written too. Metro. 'Historical fiction at its very best. This fast paced and heady brew is colourfully leavened with love and sex and a great deal of humour and wit. The second instalment cannot be published too soon' We Love This Book 'This is old-fashioned story-telling. It has swagger and, vibrancy with big characters. A gripping story with humour and strength and real attention to historical detail" Mature Times This enjoyable story has some of the wit of George MacDonald Fraser's 'Flashman'. Alexandre Dumas comes to mind too. [the remaining volumes] of this moving panorama are eagerly awaited'The Tablet'A lively adventures anyone keen on historical fiction [should] look forward to the next instalment' Telegraph 'A master of the historical novel' Guardian 'The spectacular 13-volume evocation of 16th-17th-century France' Independent 'Merle's novel offers a sympathetic and highly imaginative view of a fraught time in French history. filled with originality, humanity, and insight'New Welsh Review 'The Brethren very quickly wins one over' Glasgow Herald 'The Dumas of the twentieth century' Neues Deutschland 'A wonderful, colourful, breathlessly narrated historical panorama' Zeitpunkt 'Robert Merle is one of the very few French writers who has attained both popular success and the admiration of critics. The doyen of our novelists is a happy man' Le Figaro Robert Merle (1908-2004) was born in French Algeria, before moving to mainland France in 1918. Originally an English teacher, Merle served as an interpreter with British Expeditionary Force during the Second World War, and was captured by the German army at Dunkirk, the experience of which served as the basis for his Goncourt-prize-winning Weekend at Zuydocoote. He published the 13 volumes of his hugely popular Fortunes of France series over four decades, from 1977 to 2003, the final volume appearing just a year before his death of a heart attack in 2004. The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged. Seller Inventory # GOR005988816
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Book Description Condition: Very Good. Shipped within 24 hours from our UK warehouse. Clean, undamaged book with no damage to pages and minimal wear to the cover. Spine still tight, in very good condition. Remember if you are not happy, you are covered by our 100% money back guarantee. Seller Inventory # 6545-9781782270447
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