The Passion
Books | Fiction / Historical / General
4.2
(134)
Jeanette Winterson
The New York Times–bestselling author interweaves the destinies of Napoleon’s cook and an enigmatic Venetian woman in this “arresting, elegant novel” (Publishers Weekly). A faithful soldier of the Grande Armée, Henri is given the honor of serving meals to Napoleon himself. After all, Henri is short—and no one over five-foot-two ever serves the emperor. But when following his revered leader brings him to near-starvation in Russia’s frozen winter, Henri is disillusioned and desperate for escape. The web-footed daughter of a Venetian boatman, Villanelle has long been acquainted with the advantages of dishonesty. Trust hasn’t been her strong suit since her heart was stolen—literally—by a noblewoman she once loved. Soon these two will meet their shared destiny in the chaotic carnival that is early 19th century Venice. In The Passion, Whitbread Award-winning author Jeanette Winterson delivers a “historical novel quite different from any other” (Vanity Fair). “Recalls García Márquez . . . Magical touches dance like highlights over the brilliance of this fairy tale about passion, gambling, madness, and androgynous ecstasy.” —Edmund White
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More Details:
Author
Jeanette Winterson
Pages
176
Publisher
Grove/Atlantic, Inc.
Published Date
2007-12-01
ISBN
0802198716 9780802198716
Ratings
Google: 4.5
Community ReviewsSee all
"4.5 stars. Very different book than I anticipated. Themes of gender identity, love, and war. Set during the campaigns of Napoleon, the story follows Henri, Napoleon's complicated young cook as he questions the religion, faith, and his French nationalism as he observes the lukewarm adherence to the Catholic Faith by those around him and as he confronts the realities of war and violence. The story also follows Villanelle, an interesting character who cross dresses and seems to take on both male and female characteristics, challenges convention, and has webbed feet which she keeps folded up in the boots she rarely takes off. Once their stories intersect, their fates seemed sealed. It's quite an interesting story which was a quick read. I'm not sure I was ready to be finished with the story though when I hit the end of the book. It seemed the ending came on suddenly.<br/><br/>Passion is somewhere between fear and sex. The Passion. Just what is it?"
P G
Paul Garcia
"An absolute delight omg"
Oli Maddøx