Product Description

Jean-Christophe Rufin yokes the elegant language of the French enlightenment with the storytelling of Alexandre Dumas to create a splendid parable of liberty, religious fanaticism and the possibility of happiness.

'Set in 1700, towards the end of the reign of Louis XIV, it follows the fortunes of a brave apothecary, a talented but unofficial doctor, who is talked into leading an embassy from Cairo to Ethiopia . . . Rufin maintains a perfect balance between impatient detachment and compassionate curiosity. The Abyssinian, like Thackeray's Vanity Fair, carries the weight of history with good-humoured finesse' The Times

‘An ambitious first novel, dashing, abundant and, when necessary, vividly theatrical’ Times Literary Supplement

‘[A] remarkably assured first novel . . . Rufin’s writing is elegantly readable’ Independent

‘It is old-fashioned enough to be delightful, and new enough to be moving’ Glasgow Herald

‘Rufin offers the reader at least three different novels in the space of a single book: a tale of diplomatic intrigue, a voyage of discovery to a virtually unknown civilisation, and a chronicle of the adventures and loves of his irrepressible hero’ Daily Telegraph

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #631936 in Books
• Published on: 2000-11-10
• Original language: French
• Binding: Paperback
• 200 pages

Customer Reviews

An exciting historical adventure!
It's an exciting novel of merit. Jean-Christophe Rufin's book "The Abyssinian" combines intrigue, drama, adventure, romance, and more intrigue worthy of the time spent reading it.

Set in 17th-century Cairo during the reign of Louis XIV, Jean-Baptiste Poncet, is the young protagonist, a French doctor who, alas, is practicing without a license in Egypt. Through his connections with the French consul, he is dispatched on a diplomatic mission to the King Negus, of Abyssinia to try to open up diplomatic opportunities. It is a dangerous mission, as Christians are not welcomed following, some 50 years prior, the expulsion of the Jesuits from the area. And during the course of the book, Poncet has to confront many personal obstacles, both physically and emotionally.

A "period piece" of the first water, "The Abyssinian" combines the typical melodrama of such a tine in literature-the daring adventures, the daring romances, the daring intrigues. Rufin seems to have captured well these characteristics as he's made a novel that is compelling to read, one that, despite the obvious melodrama, captures the reader's interest tout suite with lots of wit, creativity, and cleverness.

To call this book "larger than life" is perhaps an understatement but it's what one would expect if it were written by 18th or 19th century novelists! I look for further Rufin works of fiction!

a superb adventure story
One thing should be borne in mind when starting this book. It is an old fashioned yarn from a long forgotten age of magically perfect heros and Indiana Jones-style plot conveniences. Surprising indeed for a book that won a prestigious literary award (the Prix de Goncourt). While I would not merit The Abyssinian as a literary masterpiece, it is one of the most engaging and riveting books I've had the pleasure to read for an awful long time. Skilfully narrated, masterfully imagined and often hilarious, Rufin has in the creation of the doctor Jean Baptiste Poncet given us a loveable challenger of convention, ethical medic and swashbuckling adventurer. No doubt a transition to celluloid can only be expected. And hopefully enjoyed.

Highly recommended. Do yourself a favour and recreate the excitement of reading by getting a hold of this book. It will make you feel young again!

Very entertaining - well worth reading
This is a beautifully written book and the characters are fondly and amusingly observed whilst the author gently pokes fun at them. I found the complicated political intrigues quite hard to grasp (there are the Franks, the Turks, the Egyptians, the Capuchins, the Jesuits... and many other warring factions) but this in no way detracted from my enjoyment of the book because the narrative is a joy to read. The descriptions of the long months of journeying through deserts carrying absurd gifts for distant rulers is enchantingly comical.

My only complaint would be that the book is too long. It should have ended about three quarters of the way through.