Uncle Bernac - A Memory of The Empire

Arthur Conan Doyle

Synopsis

Uncle Bernac is a historical novel of adventure and intrigue, in which Arthur Conan Doyle spins a tale around the court of Napoleon Bonaparte. The story, subtitled A Memory of the Empire, is set in 1805 and follows young Louis de Laval, a French émigré who has grown up in England due to the Revolution. Louis receives a summons to return to France to meet his uncle, Citizen Bernac, who serves as a high-ranking official under Napoleon. Hoping to reclaim his family's estate, Louis braves a clandestine crossing to Normandy, only to discover he's stepped into a viper's nest of plots. At Napoleon's camp at Boulogne (where the Army of England assembles to invade Britain), Uncle Bernac reveals ulterior motives: he expects Louis to act as a spy on behalf of the British, exploiting the nephew's half-English background – effectively making Louis a double agent against his will. Amid this peril, Louis must navigate court politics and survive the machinations of both Bonapartists and royalist conspirators. The novel features richly drawn scenes: Napoleon himself appears as a mercurial genius (Doyle portrays him conversing with Louis and testing his loyalty in a tense interview). Duels in moonlit sand dunes, secret midnight councils, and a thrilling climax during an attempted assassination of the Emperor all keep the pace brisk. Throughout, Louis grapples with divided loyalties – love of France vs. gratitude to England – embodied by a romantic subplot with a spirited French lady-in-waiting who suspects Bernac's treachery. In the denouement, Uncle Bernac's treason is dramatically exposed, perhaps by evidence Louis bravely secures, and Napoleon rewards Louis for his fidelity. Uncle Bernac deftly blends fact and fiction: Doyle's meticulous research on Napoleon's coastal camp gives an authentic backdrop, while the invented intrigue provides suspense and personal stakes. Though not as famous as Doyle's Sherlock or Brigadier Gerard tales, this novel offers an engaging mix of swashbuckling action, espionage, and historical drama. It ultimately stands as Doyle's tribute to the Napoleonic era – a story of honor and adventure under the shadow of one of history's greatest figures.

Disponible depuis: 01/08/2025.

Longueur d'impression: 250 pages.

D'autres livres qui pourraient vous intéresser

The Legendary Casey Jones - and...

Geoffrey Thomas

The Legendary Casey Jones brings together many of Geoffrey Thomas’s short stories for the first time, each brimming with the big heartedness, warmth, and homespun humor that he is known for. Sweeping through southern deltas, western prairies and colonial outposts, Geoffrey Thomas introduces a host of extraordinary characters in his mesmerizing tales of American heritage: blacksmiths, farmers, frontiersmen try to get by; a brave railroad engineer becomes a national hero; a Native American girl changes the course of history.

Voir livre

The Moonstone

Wilkie Collins

Published in 1868, "The Moonstone" is often considered one of the first, if not the first, detective novels in the English language. Penned by Wilkie Collins, this engrossing tale revolves around the theft of an enormous diamond named the Moonstone. This diamond, stolen from an Indian temple and later bequeathed to Rachel Verinder on her eighteenth birthday, goes missing under mysterious circumstances. The narrative is distinguished by its shifting perspectives, with multiple characters providing their viewpoints in a series of first-person accounts. Sergeant Cuff, a famed detective, is called upon to solve the mystery. The novel delves deep into themes of colonialism, British imperialism, and the cultural repercussions of stealing treasured artifacts from colonized nations.

Voir livre

Hidden Dynasty The: Book summary...

Alexander Pike

This content is an independent and unofficial summary created for informational and educational purposes only. It is not affiliated with, authorized, approved, licensed, or endorsed by the original author or publisher. All rights to the original work belong to its respective copyright holders. This summary is not intended to substitute the original book, but to offer a concise overview and interpretation of its main ideas.
 

The Hidden Dynasty is a gripping tale of secret bloodlines, forbidden knowledge, and the silent power that shapes the fate of empires. Beneath the gilded surface of a thriving kingdom lies a forgotten legacy—one erased from history but not from destiny. When an unsuspecting heir uncovers the truth behind their lineage, a web of deception, betrayal, and ancient prophecy begins to unravel. As alliances shift and shadows close in, the battle for truth becomes as perilous as any war. Rich in political intrigue, mythic depth, and emotional resonance, The Hidden Dynasty draws listeners into a world where legacy is everything—and the past is never truly buried. Perfect for fans of epic fantasy and historical suspense, this audiobook delivers a masterful blend of mystery and majesty.

Voir livre

The Gentlewoman Farmer

Emily Opal

Shortly after agreeing to marry her neighbor to save her farm, Sophia Worthington's childhood sweetheart returns, jeopardizing her heart and her home. 
 
 
 
To thwart her uncle's efforts to take over the farm left to her by her father, Sophia accepts a convenient marriage proposal. Her triumph is brief. Philip Eliot, the man she has loved her whole life, appears on her doorstep after a long, silent absence. 
 
 
 
Philip Eliot promised his beloved Sophia that they would marry as soon as he turned twenty-one and gained his independence. But his meddlesome mother conspired to end the affair by sending him to France and intercepting their correspondence. Now he is back and doing everything he can to remind Sophia of the love they once shared. 
 
 
 
Sophia convinces herself that she and Philip are merely friends but is unable to ignore the longing within her. Will she refuse Philip in favor of the stable life she's committed to, or risk her farm, her livelihood, and all those who depend on her to be with the man she truly loves?

Voir livre

Nobel Prize The: Ten Winners - A...

W B Yeats

Being acknowledged for what you do is always very welcome.   When it comes to Oscar’s, Emmy’s, Pulitzer’s and Nobel’s it’s also international news and for many, the pinnacle of their career. 
 
The Nobel Prize is much lauded and very difficult to secure.  In this volume we list ten of its winners over the decades who were famed for their literature.  The prize is given with an emphasis on its contribution to literature and its influence in the world and for the individual, more usually, for the body of work created. 
 
So, whilst none of the stories in this volume were winners in their own right, their authors most certainly were.  They perfectly illustrate both the nature and mastery of the writing and the power and the purpose set within its storied prose. 
 
1 - The Nobel Prize - Ten Winners - An Introduction 
2 - The Father by Bjornstjerne Bjornson 
3 - The Phantom Rickshaw by Rudyard Kipling 
4 - The Victory by Rabindranath Tagore 
5 - An Arch Rascal by Knut Hamsun 
6 - The Daughter of Lilith by Anatole France 
7 - Dhoya by W B Yeats 
8 - Speed by Sinclair Lewis 
9 - The Salvation of a Forsythe - Part 1 by John Galsworthy 
10 - The Salvation of a Forsythe - Part 2 by John Galsworthy 
11 - Son by Ivan Bunin 
12 - Sicilian Limes by Luigi Pirandello

Voir livre

Where Courage Began - Velma's Story

G. L. Gooding

A blizzard rages outside a ramshackle Iowa farmhouse in February of 1921. Five-year-old Velma and her older sister stand near a glowing Isinglass stove charged with minding their two younger brothers. 
 
 
 
Velma senses that her father is dying in the nearby living room, and she wonders if her mother can possibly survive the raging snowstorm in her brave effort to get help. 
 
 
 
Based on the early life of author G. L. Gooding's mother, Where Courage Began tells the story of Velma, her three siblings, and her widowed mother Alice Steele. 
 
 
 
Life for the young family in Woodward, Iowa, requires courage, tenacity, and ingenuity. Through setbacks, tragedies, and triumphs the Steeles forge a meaningful life in their adopted community during the difficult days leading up to The Great Depression. And it is young Velma, wise beyond her years, who plays a pivotal role in the family's survival. 
 
 
 
Verified for local historical accuracy, Where Courage Began shines light on Depression-era communities and their values for God, the land, hard work, family, and friendship.

Voir livre