League of Spies: (Fortunes of France 4)

By Robert Merle

The fourth book in the swashbuckling Fortunes of France series, in a brand new look

An uneasy peace reigns in France, but behind the scenes Catholics, Protestants and the agents of foreign powers are still locked in secretive, bloody combat. As his country's future hangs in the balance, Pierre de Siorac's apparent employment as a doctor masks a more deadly occupation – as a spy working for King Henry IV and his ally Elizabeth I of England, using fair means and foul to protect the peace of two realms.

As the plots against his king thicken and the Spanish Armada prepares to sail, Pierre finds himself struggling to save not only his country, but the lives of his entire family. With his back to the wall, he will need a keen wit and a steady sword arm to fight his way to safety.

PRAISE FOR FORTUNES OF FRANCE

’Both wise and audacious, constantly nudging up against the extraordinary' – New York Times Book Review

‘Swashbuckling historical fiction... the comparions with Dumas seem both natural and deserved' – Guardian

Robert Merle (1908–2004) was born in French Algeria, before moving to mainland France in 1918. Originally an English teacher, Merle served as an interpreter with British Expeditionary Force during the Second World War, and was captured by the German army at Dunkirk, the experience of which served as the basis for his Goncourt-prize-winning Weekend at Zuydcoote. He published the 13 volumes of his hugely popular Fortunes of France series over four decades, from 1977 to 2003, the final volume appearing just a year before his death in 2004.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pushkin Press
• Release date: Jul 5, 2018
• ISBN: 9781782274070

Robert Merle

Robert Merle (1908-2004) was born in French Algeria, before moving to mainland France in 1918. Originally an English teacher, Merle served as an interpreter with British Expeditionary Force during the Second World War, and was captured by the German army at Dunkirk, the experience of which served as the basis for his Goncourt-prize-winning Weekend at Zuydcoote. He published the 13 volumes of his hugely popular Fortunes of France series over four decades, from 1977 to 2003, the final volume appearing just a year before his death in 2004.

Reviews for League of Spies

[john257hopper · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is the fourth book in the author's series of historical novels set during the French wars of religion in the 16th and 17th centuries. This novel focuses on the 15 or so years after the infamous St Bartholomew's Eve massacre in 1572, particularly focusing on the attempts by the moderate King Henri III to keep his kingdom together, with the extreme Catholic League led by the Duc de Guise wanting to wipe out all Huguenots, while the childless King has no heir except his distant cousin the Protestant Henri of Navarre against whom he has to pretend to wage war while secretly wanting Navarre to succeed peacefully to the throne. In the last chapter, the moderate but exasperated King finally decides there is no alternative other than to assassinate Guise to prevent his plotting to overthrow him. This fourth novel felt less closely connected than its predecessors with the personal fortunes of the novels' narrator Pierre de Siorac who, nevertheless, manages to conduct his usual range of romantic and sexual escapades with many ladies. Not the best of the series, but a solid and enjoyable read as always. Now my problem is that none of the remaining nine books in the series have yet been translated into English and even the French versions seem hard to find.

[kuiperdolin · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Déjà fatiguée dans le tome 3, la série a pour moi "sauté le requin" avec le tome 4. Désormais ce ne sont plus les aventures des Siorac avec la grande histoire en toile de fond, mais l'histoire de France raconté par un protagoniste inutile qui doit cavaler d'un bout à l'autre de l'Europe pour arriver à temps pour la coïncidence suivante, sans véritable enjeu pour lui ni pour sa famille. Décevant.