Hermes In Paris

by Peter Vansittart

Hermes, the messenger of Zeus, likes to return to Earth now and again. He chooses to do so in Paris at the time of Napoleon III, a time of great frivolity and instability. Here he decides to play the most explosive practical joke in the world's history. Hermes—God, trickster and mischief-maker—is also the protector of shepherds, travelers' guide, conductor of souls to the underworld, messenger of Zeus, bringer of good luck, and patron of orators, writers, athletes, merchants, and thieves. To indulge his curiosity he visits Earth from time to time looking for opportunities to play practical jokes and stir up the population. He chooses to holiday in Paris at the time of the brilliant but unstable court of Napoleon III—another opportunist, conspiratorial and outwardly amiable—and the beautiful, nervy Empress Eugenie. Hermes finds much to provoke his laughter—and such laughter is dangerous. Under his influence France enjoys a succession of illusions involving the highest in the land, the comfortable middle classes, and the journalists, poets, and intellectuals of Left Bank cafes, and everything flows inexorably towards the most explosive joke that Hermes can devise.

Genres: Fiction

240 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2000

About the author

Peter Vansittart was a master of the historical novel and a writer of outstanding talent. He wrote more than 40 books, which also encompassed anthologies, works on literature and social history.

Reviews

[Caleb Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Historical fiction in the form of (almost) pure information -- Vansittart is as good as anyone I've read in describing people, describing things (wonderful lists), and selecting perfect quotes to embed in a scene, so reading this novel was like peering into a wonderfully stuffed diorama of a fascinating historical period I knew little about. An interesting and idiosyncratic author.

[Nicole Lungeanu · Rating 1 out of 5]

Someone wrote that Vansittart is a master in explanations! Well, the person was right. It was so full of explanations that it was so damn tiresome to read! I gave up after the third chapter. As much as I love Hermes and stories about Him, this was definitely not my book.