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The Diamond Audiobook
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(2.96) - 51 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
This dazzling historical novel tells the story of the famous Régent diamond that links together the fates of some of the most powerful figures of European history. The exiled Napoleon and his biographer, the Count Las Cases, narrate the saga of the diamond as it is brought to the decadent courts of eighteenth-century France and passed through the hands of a glittering cast of characters. The diamond bestows an incredible power for good or evil upon its transient masters, a power that inspires passion, obsession, and lethal greed. Napoleon both loves and hates the gem, which represents his greatest success yet carries a dark shadow of murder and downfall.
Ambitiously conceived, rich with historical detail and nonstop drama, The Diamond is a towering work of imagination all the more fascinating for being based in fact.
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"If I were in SA still, this is the book I would choose to read for book club. Fantastic perspective of the french revolution!"Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a fool of himself" -Napoleon Bonaparte "
— Windy (4 out of 5 stars)
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“Baumgold’s Napoleon-centered historical features deft, magazine profile–like characterizations and a gracefully brisk pace…[An] absorbing and entertaining result.”
— Publishers Weekly -
“Baumgold skillfully compresses outsize personalities, court intrigues, wars, and revolutions into an eminently readable narrative intricately woven by Napoleon’s memoirist and fellow exile…[a] beautifully nuanced portrait of the friendship between the emperor and his scribe.”
— Library Journal -
“The story is deftly told.”
— Booklist -
“[Baumgold’s] command of her subject manner is impressive, and her ability to spin small, humanizing vignettes about courtly manners and palace intrigues is skillful…a regal, multi-faceted feat of historical fiction.”
— Kirkus Reviews -
“With her extensive historical knowledge and her ability to humanize her characters, Baumgold has brought to life well-known historical figures…this novel resonates with historical accuracy that underscores the captivating narrative.”
— Romantic Times
The Diamond Listener Reviews
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" This is by far the "book of the year" !!! "
— Andie, 2/12/2013 -
" The first 3/4 of the book are an entertaining historical tale of travels and adventures involving a huge diamond, Le Regent, in pre- and post-revolutionary France. The last section is bizarre and misplaced, seemingly tacked on in order to make the book longer. But not a bad read. "
— Molly, 5/24/2012 -
" I loved it, a bit confusing but loves the way how story went from Napoleon down to Louis xv and talk of the life of the French Court and the conflict between the French and The British . "
— Louisa, 6/30/2011 -
" This ended up being rather boring. There wasn't much of a plot. "
— Jennifer, 4/12/2011 -
" Ugh. Couldn't even finish it. Don't bother. "
— Samantha, 2/3/2011 -
" This ended up being rather boring. There wasn't much of a plot. "
— Jennifer, 7/30/2010 -
" Ugh. Couldn't even finish it. Don't bother. "
— Samantha, 3/18/2009
About Julie Baumgold
Julie Baumgold is the author of Creatures of Habit. She is a former contributing editor of New York magazine, Esquire, and Vogue. She has been an essayist (Best American Essays 1996), poet (Mademoiselle Poetry Prize), and the columnist “Mr. Peepers” for New York magazine and Esquire. She lives on Amelia Island in New York.
About Simon Vance
Simon Vance (a.k.a. Robert Whitfield) is an award-winning actor and narrator. He has earned more than fifty Earphones Awards and won the prestigious Audie Award for best narration thirteen times. He was named Booklist’s very first Voice of Choice in 2008 and has been named an AudioFile Golden Voice as well as an AudioFile Best Voice of 2009. He has narrated more than eight hundred audiobooks over almost thirty years, beginning when he was a radio newsreader for the BBC in London. He is also an actor who has appeared on both stage and television.