The Last Cavalier cover art

The Last Cavalier

Being the Adventures of Count Sainte-Hermine in the Age of Napoleon

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The Last Cavalier

By: Alexandre Dumas
Narrated by: Simon Prebble
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About this listen

 The story of France from the Renaissance to the 19th century, as Dumas vibrantly retold it in his numerous enormously popular novels, has long been absent one vital, richly historical era: the Age of Napoleon. But no longer. Now dynamically, in a tale of family honor and undying vengeance, of high adventure and heroic derring-do, The Last Cavalier fills that gap.

The last cavalier is Count de Sainte-Hermine, Hector, whose elder brothers and father have fought and died for the Royalist cause during the French Revolution. For three years Hector has been languishing in prison when, in 1804, on the eve of Napoleon's coronation as emperor of France, he learns what is to be his due. Stripped of his title, denied the honour of his family name as well as the hand of the woman he loves, he is freed by Napoleon on the condition that he serve in the imperial forces. So it is in profound despair that Hector embarks on a succession of daring escapades as he courts death fearlessly. Yet again and again he wins glory, against brigands, bandits, the British, boa constrictors, sharks, tigers and crocodiles. At the Battle of Trafalgar, it is Hector's bullet that fells Nelson. But however far his adventures take him, from Burma's jungles to the wilds of Ireland, his destiny lies always with his father's enemy, Napoleon.

Public Domain (P)2009 Blackstone Audio, Inc. Action & Adventure Classics Historical Fiction France Adventure Fiction French Revolution Imperialism Royalty King

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Critic reviews

It is rousing, big spirited, its action sweeping across oceans and continents, its hero gloriously indomitable. This newly discovered last novel of Alexandre Dumas, lost for 125 years in the archives of the National Library in Paris, completes the Dumas oeuvre.
"Absolutely wonderful....Alexandre Dumas remains, now as ever, the Napoleon of storytellers." - ( Washington Post)
"James Bond, Indiana Jones, and many others owe a deep debt to Dumas, who stuffs his tales with thrilling exploits and exotic locales. No one with a pulse will be able to resist Dumas's lost classic." ( Christian Science Monitor)
All stars
Most relevant  
The only thing wrong with this is that there was no end! But I appreciate that an attempt was not made, a lovely story and a great narration

Perfect

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I love Dumas and this didn't disappoint. Personally I think he wrote one of the first super heroes. The main character is nothing short of excellent at anything he turns his hand to. rescues women, sacrifices his identity. The start of the book gave me a really detailed idea of Napoleon, his personality and how France was steered through the threat oglf civil war which I found very interesting as a history lover. Once again at the end when we Are at Trafalgar with Nelson, you are given huge amounts of context and description surrounding the man and the battle. If you love adventure set in real historical times, Dumas is your man. It is an unfinished work but I loved it nevertheless.

Adventure and Napoleon

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Where does The Last Cavalier rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It's certainly one of the best, most particularly in terms of the wonderful, truly wonderful, narration. I have not listened to anything by Simon Prebble before but I definitely will again, he is a master at fully understanding the text and interpreting it with the author's intended humor, satire and depth of vision.

What did you like best about this story?

I always like Dumas's somewhat fantastical figures. I loved the Count of Monte Cristo for his equally ridiculous talents and this is really no different but the story here is different indeed. The accuracy of the historical context is perfect and wonderfully rendered into a fascinating account of not only Napoleon but also Nelson and all the minor characters around them.

This is the 'missing piece' from Dumas's work and you'll find he features his own father (in real life, his real father!) in a minor role in this book.

If you love this period of history, the Napoleonic wars and the increasing madness (or, some might say, megalomania) of Napoleon, then you will LOVE this.

Have you listened to any of Simon Prebble’s other performances? How does this one compare?

No but I certainly shall again. He was quite wonderful, lovely characterizations, never sounds bored in what is, after all, a very long tome and he delivers the speeches with exactly the right amount of pathos and/or quietude without ever resorting to caricature.

A truly marvellous performance.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Not especially but then I have read War and Peace which is perhaps the greatest book ever written about this period and THAT did make me cry. However, I WAS very sad when this book ended and tried to ration out the final few hours so it did not end too soon as Simon Prebble's beautiful narration had made all the characters sympathetic and one was left wanting to know 'what happened next' to them all.

Any additional comments?

Just BUY IT! It's fantastic and I shall definitely listen to it again as it time well invested.

Excellent story, beautifully narrated.

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The narrator does a smashing job at switching between characters. Calm , soothing and a pleasure to listen to.

Absolutely amazing. Brilliant narrator.

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narrator was really good at expressing emotions through his voice. the story was also entertaining.

really impressed with narration.

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This book is just great adventure history love and more the character's are so well done most the ones who are taken from history are done so well he writes them in a way that's help you form an opinion vast on what you read not what The history books tell and the back ground information on the events and places you see in book is great.


one of dumas greats

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I loved it. I wish there was a sequel. Real genteel early Victorian Franco adventure.

What a surprise. 170 years old and still great.

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This is a super book, especially if you like the way in which Dumas wrote. Thanks is a good story interwoven with history, the hero being exceptional yet humble. The novel is also graphic in places and descriptions are vivid. The narration is very good bringing scenes to life well. I chose the book as I am listening to as many of books by Dumas as I can. Very glad I stayed with it to the end.

Long!

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