I see this book has not been rated very highly, so I thought I would throw in my opinion. I read for pleasure pure and simple. At the risk of sounding shallow, I'm not looking for meaning, although it's nice when I find it. I just like a great story which allows me to escape from life for a while. I must admit I am sucker for a great adventure story. As a fan of outsider protagonists I find Ethan Gage refreshingly new, while familiar at the same time. The historical setting also lends a familiarity, along with an exciting element. After all I live in the present, so going back to a bygone age is a great escape. The problem is most historical fiction is too....pastoral for me. I seems that William Dietrich feels the same way.
Ethan Gage is a rouge, who gambles, fights, womanizes, and used to be an assistant to Benjamin Franklin. In a sense this feels like a chase, but most chase books are too action dependant and don’t delve into character nearly enough to hold my interest.
Gage’s adventure takes him from a bar in Paris, to Napoleon’s army invading Egypt.
It’s a great story I recommend it to fans of adventure, and suspense, with a flair for history.