Summary
Set against the magnificent background of the eighteenth century where science and magic, death and beauty meet in the gilded salons of the decadent nobility and the brothels and debtors’ prisons of London, Francis tells of his many love affairs and his deadly duels, his encounters with courtesans and castrati, alchemists and anatomists, Rosicrucians, visionaries, monsters, charlatans, spies and assassins. His travels take him through France, across the Alpine passes to Venice and the pirate-infested Mediterranean Sea to Egypt, Cyprus and distant, exotic Constantinople on the trail of his mysterious ancestor Tobias who might - just possibly - still be alive.
Book Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781848543331 |
|---|---|
| ISBN-10: | 1848543336 |
| Author: | L.R. Fredericks |
| Publisher: | Hodder & Stoughton |
| Imprint: | Hodder Paperback |
| Format: | Paperback |
| Number of Pages: | 544 |
| Release Date: | 12 March 2013 |
| Weight: | 364g |
| Dimensions: | 35mm x 129mm x 197mm |
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Critics Review
‘This is very special…An epic historical novel with magical undertones as a man searches across Europe for the elixir of life.
‘This is very special…An epic historical novel with magical undertones as a man searches across Europe for the elixir of life. It’s 18th-century drama full of science, adventure and mystery on a grand scale. Wonderful stuff, highly recommended. - The Bookseller - Ones to Watch
Fate is an intricate, Gothic novel in elegant style. Fredericks brilliantly absorbs the detail of eighteenth-century cities, country, clothes, food, theatre, music and architecture. This fast-paced fiction transcends the genre … Read Fate: discover its secrets; meets its characters; experience Damory’s quest; above all enjoy a deeper sense of what it is to be human - Historical Novels ReviewA sensationally engrossing read … elegant characters in an eloquently told tale of mystery, magic and timelessness … a sublimely enjoyable book that will leave you filled with wonder and thinking about it long after you have closed the cover - Brings to live a vivid, exciting portrait of the eighteenth-century world … Though undoubtedly an adventure story, Fate unfolds as an intricate, dark treatise on the costs of attaining knowledge and the double-edged sword of eternal life on earth … This beautifully written book presents the question of whether a man is truly in charge of his own destiny or whether fate - and the fate of those around him - is determined by forces beyond his control - Lord Francis Damory, bit player in Farundell, deserved a volume of his own, and this is it … A funny, enthralling prequel … It’s an action-packed story as many events (and people) happen to him but one accepts they wouldn’t be as entertaining recounted by anyone else. This Lord Damory is a kind, generous scientist and polymath, but most of all, Ms Fredericks has blessed him with an excellent sardonic, sarcastic wit and sense of irony - A story with a whole host of elements that blend together to create a great whole. If you want a love story, you have it, you want adventure, yep that too and if you like something that pushes boundaries bringing historical fiction and fantasy together then you’re in for a treat. Add to this some solid prose with a huge cast and all in all it’s a standalone that works very well. Back that up with an author who loves to tell a story that brings their own identifiable style and you’ve got something a little bit special. Great -L.R. Fredericks
L. R. Fredericks lives in Oxfordshire. FATE is her second novel. Her first novel, FARUNDELL, was shortlisted for the Authors’ Club First Novel Award and is available from John Murray.
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