Brigadier Frederick; and The Dean's Watch - An Intriguing Tale of 18th Century France and Suspenseful Mysteries

Erckmann- Chatrian

Summary

In "Brigadier Frederick; and, The Dean's Watch," Erckmann-Chatrian weaves a rich tapestry of 19th-century French rural life, exploring themes of honor, duty, and the complexities of human relationships. The literary style is characterized by a harmonious blend of realism and romanticism, effectively capturing the rigors and triumphs of its characters. The backdrop of the Napoleonic Wars echoes throughout the narratives, adding a historical depth that enhances the individual stories of Brigadier Frederick and the contemplative life of the Dean, which are rife with moral dilemmas and the pursuit of personal integrity. Erckmann-Chatrian, a collaborative literary duo consisting of √âmile Erckmann and Alexandre Chatrian, emerged during a period of social and political tumult in France. Their background as Alsatian writers provided them with a unique perspective on the national identity and regional conflicts that permeated their works. Their preoccupation with themes of patriotism and social justice undoubtedly influenced these tales, as they sought to reflect the realities of their time while offering readers a lens into the struggles of everyday life. This compelling collection is highly recommended for readers interested in historical fiction that does not shy away from the moral quandaries of its characters. With its engaging narratives and richly drawn settings, "Brigadier Frederick; and, The Dean's Watch" is an essential read for anyone seeking to understand the intricacies of human nature within a vividly depicted historical context.

Available since: 03/16/2020.

Print length: 306 pages.

Other books that might interest you

The Imperialists

Vivian Stuart

The twenty-third book in the dramatic and intriguing story about the colonisation of Australia: a country made of blood, passion, and dreams.
 
A new century has dawned as Australia forms their country. 
 
New hopes characterise the lives of the young Australians. Some had to the Outback in search of gold and glory. Others find their fulfilment in politics and seize power in the newly-formed country. Some are even moving north to conquer new lands.

Show book

The Forgotten Secret

Kathleen McGurl

Can she unlock the mysteries of the past?
A country at war
It’s the summer of 1919 and Ellen O’Brien has her whole life ahead of her. Young, in love and leaving home for her first job, the future seems full of shining possibility. But war is brewing and before long, Ellen and everyone around her are swept up by it. As Ireland is torn apart by the turmoil, Ellen finds herself facing the ultimate test of love and loyalty.
A long-buried secret
A hundred years later and Clare Farrell has inherited a dilapidated old farmhouse in County Meath. Seizing the chance to escape her unhappy marriage she strikes out on her own for the first time, hoping the old building might also provide clues to her family’s shadowy history. As she sets out to put the place – and herself – back to rights, she stumbles across a long-forgotten hiding place, with a clue to a secret that has lain buried for decades.
For fans of Kate Morton and Gill Paul comes an unforgettable novel about two women fighting for independence.Readers LOVE The Forgotten Secret!
‘WOW! I can’t begin to find the right words to describe just how much I adored this… Had me hooked from the first few pages… Unputdownable.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars
‘A story you really live, wonderfully told… Absolutely compelling.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars
‘A compelling and gripping story that will hook you from the very first page… I highly recommend it.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars
‘I cannot say how much I loved this book! It was wonderful… I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars
‘Just so delightful… Such a wonderful book and easily the best book I’ve read so far this year.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars
‘I am totally lost for words… I can’t praise this book enough and will be telling family and friends to read this ROLLER COASTER EXTRAVAGANZA OF A BOOK.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars
Kathleen McGurl's The Forgotten Secret is a top-tier fiction novel that beautifully captures the essence of romance in a rural town. The small town sagas and holiday traditions that are woven into the narrative make the story even more engaging.
For fans of Kate Morton (The Lake House), Barbara Davis (The Wishing Tide), Kristin Hannah (The Great Alone), Ellen Marie Wiseman (The Lost Girls of Willowbrook), and Susanne O'Leary (The Girl with the Irish Secret).

Show book

The Map of Bones

Kate Mosse

Read by Hattie Morahan, with an author's note read by Kate Mosse.'Mosse is a master storyteller' – Madeleine Miller, bestselling author of CirceA sweeping story of love, adventure and adversity, The Map of Bones by Kate Mosse is an epic tale of courageous women battling to survive in a hostile land.Olifantshoek, Southern Africa, 1688. When the violent Cape wind blows from the south-east, they say the voices of the unquiet dead can be heard whispering through the deserted valley. Suzanne Joubert, a Huguenot refugee from war-torn France, arrives in search of her cousin — the notorious she-captain and pirate commander Louise Reydon-Joubert — who landed at the Cape of Good Hope more than sixty years before, then disappeared without a trace . . .Franschhoek, Southern Africa, 1862. Nearly one hundred and eighty years after Suzanne’s perilous journey, another intrepid and courageous woman of the Joubert family — Isabelle Lepard — has journeyed to the small frontier town once known as Oliftantshoek in search of her long-lost relations. Intent on putting the women of her family back into the history books, she quickly discovers that the crimes and tragedies still shadow the present. And now, Isabelle faces a race against time if she is to discover the truth, and escape with her life . . .Painstakingly researched and beautifully told, The Map of Bones is the fourth – and final – novel of The Joubert Family Chronicles, following the bestselling The Burning Chambers, The City of Tears and The Ghost Ship.Praise for The Joubert Family Chronicles:'Gripping, complex and intensely atmospheric' – The Mail on Sunday on The Burning Chambers'A historical epic' – The Observer on The City of Tears'Meticulously researched and stunningly written' – Santa Montefiore, bestselling author of Wait for Me, on The Ghost ShipThe Ghost Ship by Kate Mosse was a #1 Sunday Times bestseller w/c 09-07-23

Show book

Columba's Bones

David Greig

In a bloody, brutal raid, Abbot Blathmac is slain on the steps of his monastery for refusing to give away the location of the sacred relics of St Columba, the missionary who first brought Christianity to Scotland. Following a night of rampage and mayhem, one Viking wakes up the next morning to find himself alone, hungover, and abandoned by his crew mates. He can't swim, there are no boats, and the only surviving monk on the island has taken his sword. With only his wits, he must survive long enough not only to rejoin his Viking comrades, but also to find the location of the elusive relics that brought him here in the first place. 
 
 
 
Rooted in the real history of Iona and its early monks, Columba's Bones is an utterly unique and thrilling book, exploring the clash of early Christianity and paganism, and expanding into a sharp, witty meditation on philosophy, redemption, shame, violence, love, transcendence, and reality.

Show book

The Monk and the Hangman's...

Ambrose Bierce

A knot of monks happens upon a gallows in the middle of a dark forest. Hanging from the gallows is a fresh corpse, and underneath the dangling wretch a young woman performs a haunting dance. When Ambrosius falls in love with this outcast woman, his efforts to suppress his natural feelings result in a gradual descent toward calamity and tragedy.  Bierce’s subtle transformation of the monk Ambrosius from innocent monk to violent zealot is masterfully done, ranking this among Bierce’s finest achievements.

Show book

One Clear Call

Upton Sinclair

As D-Day approaches, an American spy is unmasked by Himmler’s Gestapo and must flee the Nazis, in this novel in the Pulitzer Prize–winning historical saga.  In 1943, the once-unstoppable Nazi war machine is starting to falter. For a decade and a half, Lanny Budd’s cover as a fine-art dealer and Fascist sympathizer has held firm, earning him the confidence of Hermann Göring and other top officials, including Adolf Hitler himself. With the Allies preparing to retake Europe, Lanny must make certain that the location of the invasion remains hidden from the Nazi high command. But his mission is compromised and his life endangered when Heinrich Himmler, Hitler’s feared Gestapo chief, uncovers Lanny’s true loyalties.   Now FDR’s most trusted spy must run for his life, escaping into the European countryside with Hitler’s executioners on his trail. His survival will require great courage, endurance, and ingenuity, but Lanny Budd is determined to live long enough to witness what he has waited so many years to see: the final collapse of the Third Reich.  One Clear Call is the thrilling ninth installment of Upton Sinclair’s Pulitzer Prize–winning dramatization of twentieth-century world history. An astonishing mix of adventure, romance, and political intrigue, the Lanny Budd Novels are a testament to the breathtaking scope of the author’s vision and his singular talents as a storyteller.

Show book