Uncle Bernac

By Arthur Conan Doyle

At this unexpected announcement Talleyrand and Berthier looked at each other in silence, and for once the trained features of the great diplomatist, who lived behind a mask, betrayed the fact that he was still capable of emotion. The spasm which passed over them was caused, however, rather by mischievous amusement than by consternation, while Berthier--who had an honest affection for both Napoleon and Josephine-- ran frantically to the door as if to bar the Empress from entering.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WS
• Release date: Sep 12, 2018
• ISBN: 9782291051060

Arthur Conan Doyle

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859–1930) was a Scottish writer and physician, most famous for his stories about the detective Sherlock Holmes and long-suffering sidekick Dr Watson. Conan Doyle was a prolific writer whose other works include fantasy and science fiction stories, plays, romances, poetry, non-fiction and historical novels.

Reviews for Uncle Bernac

[john257hopper · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is quite a good short novel about a French aristocrat, de Laval, in exile in Kent after the revolution, who returns to serve Napoleon as he is convinced that the Corsican is the epitomy of the spririt of France. There is some good drama here, with chases across misty marshes, treachery, double dealing, murder and (a small amount of) romance. Although de Laval is the hero of the novel, the real central character is Napoleon himself and he is depicted quite clearly in all his colossal strengths and humam foibles, being both worshipped and feared. The ending was perhaps slightly rushed and trite, but this was good stuff. Incidentally, there is a soldier here called Gerard, but he is a real historical character and not the hero of Conan Doyle's short stories about a fictional Brigadier Gerard. 4/5