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The Abyssinian (1997)

by Jean-Christophe Rufin

Other authors: See the other authors section.

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4901749,812 (3.63)31
In 1699, Louis XIV of France sent an embassy to the most mysterious of oriental sovereigns, the Negus, or King, of Abyssinia (modern-day Ethiopia). Louis' hope was to lure that country into the political and religious orbit of France.Jean-Baptiste Poncet, young apothecary/physician to the pashas of Cairo, is the hero of this romantic epic embroidering upon the known details of that long-forgotten embassy. Selected by the French consul to lead the mission. Poncet travels through the deserts of Egypt and the mountains of Abyssinia to the court of the Negus, thence to Versailles and back again. Along the way he falls madly in love with the consul's daughter, treats the Negus for a mysterious skin ailment, and gains a disastrous audience with the king of France.… (more)
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    Gentlemen of the Road: A Tale of Adventure by Michael Chabon (Limelite)
    Limelite: Same formula of the picaqresque mold: hero with sidekick, The Girl, and high adventure, deception, and danger in an exotic setting and in historical times.
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» See also 31 mentions

English (6)  Spanish (6)  French (5)  All languages (17)
Showing 1-5 of 6 (next | show all)
El abisinio
Jean-Christophe Rufin
Publicado: 1997 | 488 páginas
Novela Histórico

El hecho histórico que sirvió como fuente de inspiración a Jean-Christophe Rufin para escribir «El abisinio» fue la embajada a Abisinia organizada por el Rey Sol. Esta epopeya barroca y poética tiene como protagonista a Jean-Baptiste Poncet, un joven médico perteneciente a la colonia francesa asentada en El Cairo, que ve truncada su tranquilidad al ser elegido como cabecilla de una misión cuyo objetivo es curar de una enfermedad a El Negus, mítico soberano abisinio. La embajada es en realidad un pretexto del monarca Luis XIV con el fin de restablecer el contacto político y religioso con uno de los países más enigmáticos y atractivos para Occidente, afianzando así la presencia francesa en Oriente. Poncet, que ignora la trama urdida a sus espaldas, parte hacia Abisinia en compañía de su acólito Juremi, un artista y liberal francés, y el padre Brèvedent, un jesuita cuya melancolía oculta una siniestra ambición de poder. Juntos recorren los desiertos egipcios, cruzan las montañas abisinias y, tras haber cumplido con su objetivo, se trasladan a Versalles, donde comunican sus impresiones al rey francés. Sin embargo, el recibimiento en palacio será muy diferente al esperado: la ideología liberal de Poncet chocará con el conservadurismo de la corte. Emocionante novela de aventuras impregnada de humor, historia de un amor marcado por la diferencia de clases, parábola que cuestiona el papel colonizador de Occidente, «El abisinio» recibió el premio Goncourt a la primera novela.
  libreriarofer | Oct 11, 2023 |
A fun but rather silly book that really suffers in translation. Read in French if possible. Author has an axe to grind with the diplomatic corps! ( )
  hatpin | Jun 17, 2018 |
From the opening pages, I am intrigued. Rufin’s tone is probably responsible as it is both strongly narrative but liberally dosed with acerbic wit that satirizes colonial French behavior in the time of the Sun King.

The Cast: M. de Maillet (the Mallet) is the French consul in Cairo, married to a fluttery hen of a wife and father of a beautiful daughter (naturally), who catches the eye and instantaneously captures the heart of Jean-Baptiste Poncet, an herbalist and business partner of the dour Maître Juremi, an apothecary and restorer of fine art works, and the pulchritudinous Francoise. Mlle Maillet has already enraptured the Consul’s secretary, M. Macé, who on meeting Poncet for the first time, feels himself “invaded by a lively hatred..” Otherwise, Catholics, Muslims, and Copts seem to live in relative harmony and the French consul is only disturbed by domestic storms invariably whipped up by his own hypochondriacal overwrought imagination or by his wife’s panicked response to her husband’s lack of equanimity. Then a “Stranger Comes to Town” – the arrival of a mysterious Jesuit envoy (or is he?), Father Versau, bears a message directly from the Sun King’s court. Or, so he says.

Louis XIV wishes to create an alliance and “restore” the Catholic faith to Abyssinia and M. de Maillet is the man to do it. Except the consul demurs and proposes that a merchant undertake the dangerous venture into the land of the negus, one commander of the caravan, Hajji Ali. And the adventure begins, for naturally, it is Jean-Baptiste and Juremi who are assigned the task of escorting the envoy to the lands of the Lion. What better way to get rid of the unsuitable suitor, de Maillet thinks in response to his secretary's suggestion. And that is only the beginning.

My reading is punctuated by outbursts of my laughter at Rufin’s turns of phrase, such as the oxymoronic description of the consul: “. . .he was bursting with proud humility.” For Quixotic adventure, for acerbic commentary, for camels, for desert nights, for voluptuous lady loves, for the sheer joy of reading one can’t beat this novel. ( )
  Limelite | Apr 4, 2015 |
This fun and interesting adventure story features some sure-fire elements to pique our interest: desert caravans, forbidden love, an audience with Louis XIV, wonderful secondary players. But it also plays a game with the old formula, changing things up a bit. Our hero's lady love is not a virgin, but engages in an assignation with a rich, self-centered libertine, who eventually comes to a timely end through his ignorance and arrogance. Our intrepid hero, Jean-Baptiste, a part-time healer, does not succeed in his quest until he forsakes the society which he formerly intended to win over.

A fun, witty read, with an intrepid hero, a devoted lady love, and a delightful couple as sidekicks, Maitre Juremi and Francoise. Lose yourself in this one; I guarantee a good time.

http://bassoprofundo1.blogspot.com/2010/07/abyssinian-by-jean-cristophe-rufin.ht... ( )
  LukeS | Apr 22, 2009 |
Tous les ingrédients sont réunis pour faire de cette oeuvre une belle réussite: une toile de fond historique, des personnages forts et attachants, des paysages qui défilent, des passions,... Passés les premiers chapitres qui plantent le décor, on se laisse totalement embarquer. Bon voyage! ( )
  fannette | Jun 29, 2008 |
Showing 1-5 of 6 (next | show all)
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» Add other authors (5 possible)

Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
Rufin, Jean-Christopheprimary authorall editionsconfirmed
Wood, WillardTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
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In 1699, Louis XIV of France sent an embassy to the most mysterious of oriental sovereigns, the Negus, or King, of Abyssinia (modern-day Ethiopia). Louis' hope was to lure that country into the political and religious orbit of France.Jean-Baptiste Poncet, young apothecary/physician to the pashas of Cairo, is the hero of this romantic epic embroidering upon the known details of that long-forgotten embassy. Selected by the French consul to lead the mission. Poncet travels through the deserts of Egypt and the mountains of Abyssinia to the court of the Negus, thence to Versailles and back again. Along the way he falls madly in love with the consul's daughter, treats the Negus for a mysterious skin ailment, and gains a disastrous audience with the king of France.

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