Napoleon's Pyramids | William Dietrich | Think Indiana Jones meets Napoleon!

Napoleon's Pyramids | William Dietrich | Dietrich is a genius !

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Napoleon's Pyramids

	Napoleon's Pyramids William Dietrich Harper, 2008 - 416 pages average customer review:based on 43 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Think Indiana Jones meets Napoleon!

Imagine a young man who had worked with Benjamin Franklin - a hero who found notoriety in Paris. Ethan Gage, living in Post Revolution Paris, won a mysterious medallion during a poker game. Others in the game tried to get the medallion from Gage, but he keeps it in his possession. He's framed for a murder he didn't commit, and he runs. Ultimately to Napoleon Bonaparte's Egyptian campaign. Bonaparte is not only bringing troops to conquer the ancient land, but savants to learn and glean the knowledge of this once formidable country. Soon Gage is up to his eyeballs in danger and intruige in Egypt. He has a great sense of humor and even in the midst of danger, he says something to make you laugh.
The action is amazing - vibrant accounts of naval battles with Nelson - literally puts you there on the ship, as well as land battles. Gage seeks knowledge about the medallion and finds scholars that start him on a path that the medallion is more than a pendant, but perhaps a key to a lost society and greater knowledge. Along the way, he falls in love. The action in this book is nonstop - there is romance, historical figures vividly shown, ancient cities explored. Ethan soon finds himself in constant danger from the men who want that medallion - possibly the key to powers so great, the owner could literally rule the world.
The end seems open to a sequel, and I hope it does - this is a wonderfully presented historical, action book that you'll be begging for more after you read it. You will enjoy Napoleon's Pyramids.

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Dietrich is a genius !

I would love to get the chance to meet William Dietrich so that I could thank him for enriching my reading experiences with his wonderful books.

I first became acquainted with this author when I read 'Ice Reich' and I was amazed at what a great story it was. Dietrich's heroes are just like Indiana Jones - strong, resourceful, and engaging, with the greatest respect for the significance of both history and the moment.

In Ice Reich, Dietrich allows us to become intimately acquainted with the Reichsfuehrer Herman Goering, a charismatic leader and monumental 20th century figure who as we know, had a tremendous authority that resulted in great destruction and death, with few positive personal traits to recommend his memory to history.

In Napoleon's Pyramids, the novel's hero Ethan Gage allows us to get acquainted with the great 19th century French emperor, who is revealed as a man no less human then Goering, whose hands are perhaps no less stained with blood and ill-gotten gains from the plunder of war, but who somehow manages to emerge in a more sympathetic light. Napoleon seems to truly believe that he is 'liberating' the Egyptians and giving them the opportunity to benefit from advances of Western civilization.

I am a great historical trivia buff; I have read of Napoleon's visit to the sarcophagus deep inside the great pyramid, and I was thrilled and pleased when Dietrich quoted the emperor's actual comments as he emerged into the sunlight after meditating alone inside the pharaoh's granite coffin for more than an hour. The supremely confident and self assured Napoleon is shaken by the experience, and he tells his entourage: "I had a picture of my life, or I think it was my life. I'm not even sure if it was the future or the past. It was very strange . . . We will not speak of this again."

Napoleon hoped to gain the secret to immortality and absolute power by learning the secrets of the ancient Egyptians, and his belief that Gage might help him in this purpose is the good fortune that spared our hero's life after he was falsely accused of the murder of a prostitute in Paris.

The 'real' secret of ancient Egypt and the pyramid is finally discovered by our hero Gage and his lovely Egyptian companion Astiza, and this discovery leads to a delightfully upbeat and inspirational ending to this great action packed and introspective thriller!

Great praise for Dietrich ! I can't wait till his next book !

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A spectacular treasure hunt

With the recent wave of stories centered on cryptic codes, ancient icons and sacred books thought to be forever lost, NAPOLEON'S PYRAMIDS leaps to the top of the heap with its highly intellectual approach. It is like a series of little history lessons, only the lessons read like adventure vignettes interwoven with religious debates and mythical tales. Full of so many fascinating facts and philosophies, it will take more than one very enjoyable reading --- and never mind the breathtaking thrills.

As Napoleon Bonaparte is finalizing plans to conquer Egypt, American Ethan Gage wins a medallion in a card game. It seemed like good luck at the time, but was it really? Maybe it was preordained; maybe it was fate. He tucks it away and tries to go on with life as usual, but finds himself pursued by ruthless villains willing to do almost anything to get it. He runs into some "legal problems," as he puts it, and is forced to flee Paris. The best course of action appears to be hooking up with Napoleon's army as a savant, ostensibly tagging along in order to study the secrets of the pyramids.

While he had hoped to leave his troubles behind him, they won't go away so simply. But the more he is ambushed, chased and shot at, the more he redoubles his determination to safeguard the medallion and ultimately unravel its mysteries. Little does he realize the enormity of the task he has set for himself.

More than once, Gage is tempted to give it away, but something always stops him. It would have been much easier --- and much safer --- had he decided to relinquish it. But of course, then there would have been no story. A stubborn man, he holds fast to it. "What annoyed me is that no one ever asked politely. They shoved pistols in my face, stole boots, and threw snakes at my bed."

Along the way, Gage is rescued by gypsies and enjoys their hospitality for a few days. A woman in the camp does a Tarot reading for Gage, and her message leaves him puzzled at the time. "The cards say you will learn what I mean when you get where you must go. You are the fool who must find the fool, becoming wise to find wisdom. You are a seeker who must find the first to seek." But, when he recalls it sometime later, the truth of the prophecy raises the hair on the nape of his neck.

Originally in France to work with Benjamin Franklin, Gage has attained some status, which is fortunate for him or Napoleon might have had him shot more than once. Since Gage has not enlisted as a soldier, he plays a little hard and fast with the rules and tries the French general's patience. However, his tenacity, determination and sheer will to survive impress Napoleon. So Gage continues his quest, with the help of the French, English, Mamelukes, Arabs, seers, mathematicians and a beautiful woman.

NAPOLEON'S PYRAMIDS is one spectacular treasure hunt. Think THE DA VINCI CODE with more mathematics, Raiders of the Lost Ark with more reality and the swashbuckling of Pirates of the Caribbean with more sand. It starts off with a bang and races full speed over land and sea toward an astonishing ending. Or is it a beginning? Whichever, it is hard to put down and impossible to read the last 50 pages with dry palms.

--- Reviewed by Kate Ayers

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terrific heroic saga

Four years have passed since Robespierre and the Reign of Terror ended. In Paris, though the aristocracy may have changed from blue blood to revolutionary blood, France seems back to normal as war, corruption, and pleasure rule. While observing this trend back to normalcy, American expatriate Ethan Gage wins a seemingly valuable trinket at cards, but it almost cost him his life. This is the story of how Ben Franklin's former apprentice learns a life lesson that gambling is a vice.

Ethan won the Egyptian medallion in a card game. Afterward one of the other players offers money for the item, but Ethan turns him down. Just before leaving he warned no one refuses Silano and besides the medallion is cursed. Soon afterward thieves attack Ethan who realizes quickly they want the medallion. He survives their assault and keeps his newest asset, but now learns the gendarme seek him as a murder suspect. His luck turns at this point when he is attacked again, but gypsies and a mysterious Brit save his life. He joins Napoleon's Egypt expedition to get out of France and to learn why the medallion is so coveted. Instead in Egypt, malevolent assassins willing to kill him for the medallion come after Ethan.

Gage is a sort of a late nineteenth century Hans Solo as he is a bit of a rogue. The story line is fast-paced whether it is in Paris or the Sahara as it seems that every turn that the hero makes and under every grain of sand he steps on lead to danger from someone coveting the medallion. The use of real historical persona and a strong support cast augments a terrific heroic saga that equates to a night of no sleep for readers.

Harriet Klausner

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A great recipe

Ingredients:

1 cup Indiana Jones
1 cup DaVinci Code
2 cups Fun
1 teaspoon math puzzles
2 tablespoons Freemason / Knights Templar lore
1 cup good guys
1 cup bad guys
1 cup beautiful heroine
1 cup courtin' and sparkin'
1 cup chase scenes
1 cup battle scenes
some pyramids and hot air balloons

Mix all ingredients in a large bowl and let sit 30 minutes. Skim off any deep thinking and subplots, replacing with more fun in equal amounts. Bake for 30 minutes in a 350 degree oven. Slice into thin pages, bind and serve. You'll love it!

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