La lanterne des morts

Hero of the war in America but banished from France by Louis XVI, Joachim de Valency d?Adana and his friends are called back from exile by the French Revolution. Joachim has not forgotten that France is also where he might once again see his mistress, Victoire.

Back in a Paris that he barely recognises, Joachim is sent to Vendée by Robespierre, whose life he once saved, with his 714 companions. Each one is prepared to die for their leader. There he faces the Count of Blacfort, once a friend, now a Royalist general and a fierce enemy who killed his father and almost all those he loved?

The ensuing civil war is atrocious. Men are crucified on the doors of churches, the wounded are killed off and many people are tortured and mutilated. Valencey d?Adana tries to remain true to the principles of knighthood and fights back loyally against the Royalists.

Little does he know that Victoire, taken captive, then freed and now leading her own band of militants, is attempting to cross over the battle lines of both armies in order to reach him. Meanwhile the Count of Blacfort and Valency d?Adana know that fate will push them together for a final battle.

Frédéric Fajardie is the author of close to thirty novels, among which the best seller Les foulards rouges (JC Lattès, 2002). Foreign rights have been sold to Spain. He is also a screen writer for the cinema.

?A sense of suspense and plot twisting, a taste for wartime heroism and passionate love are perfectly balanced in this novel destined for a large public? The book is not bogged down with description, it is pure reading pleasure in the vein of Alexander Dumas.? Ouest-France