Henri is a young French peasant who becomes Napoleon's personal cook and follows the emperor's armies, as he worships the emperor. Villanelle, the other narrator, is a Venetian boatman's daughter born with webbed feet, which allows her to walk on water, and she works in a casino where she meets a woman, with whom she falls in love. The two narratives link, and Jeanette Winterson shows how passion shapes people's lives, through Napoleon's Russian campaign and the winding city of Venice. The book mixes fairy tale, history and reflections on love and obsession.
It's a good choice for readers who like imaginative, poetic novels with a historical backdrop. People who appreciate playful, bold storytelling will enjoy it.
Deep, inward-looking, open-ended and thought-provoking; a moderate read.
Best for readers like The Wisdom Collector. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 1987
- Language
- EN
