The Sun King Conspiracy
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- £4.49
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- £4.49
Publisher Description
A tale of religious brotherhoods, corruption, romantic intrigue and political scheming at the court of Louis XIV.
'Keeps the reader guessing ... conspiracy theorists will love it' Historical Novel Society
1661 is a year of destiny for France and its young King, Louis XIV. Cardinal Mazarin, the Chief Minister who has governed throughout the King's early years, lies dying. As a fierce power struggle develops to succeed him, a religious brotherhood, guardian of a centuries-old secret, also sees its chance to influence events. Gabriel de Pontbriand, an aspiring actor employed as secretary to Molière, becomes unwittingly involved when documents stolen from Mazarin's palace fall into his hands. The coded papers will alter Gabriel's life for ever, and their explosive contents have the power to change the course of history for France and the Sun King himself.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Dumas fans will especially enjoy J go and L p e's thoughtful thriller set in 1661 France. Though the country is nominally ruled by young Louis XIV, Cardinal Jules Mazarin has been the country's de facto leader for decades. As the cardinal lies on his deathbed, he's shaken to learn that a fire set in his Paris palace was designed to divert attention from a burglary that netted the thieves some secret documents. Mazarin orders his adviser Jean-Baptiste Colbert to retrieve them by any means necessary. This effort ensnares the book's D'Artagnan-like hero, actor Gabriel de Pontbriand, secretary to the playwright Moli re. Gabriel stumbles upon coded papers concealed in the prompter's well of the theater after one of the burglars fell through the roof. The machinations of a shadowy Rome-based conspiracy, as well as the jockeying for power in anticipation of a vacuum following Mazarin's demise, ratchet up the tension, even for readers familiar with how that struggle played out.
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