Book description
Neal Stephenson continues his extraordinary Baroque Cycle in this
sequel to his bestselling Quicksilver, bringing to life a cast of
unforgettable characters in a time of breathtaking genius and
discovery.
It is the late 1600s, on the high seas. A group of Barbary galley
slaves plot as they ply the oars of a pirate ship, hatching a daring
scheme to find an enormous cache of Spanish gold. Amazingly, they
succeed - leaving some very unhappy men behind who vow to hunt down
the vagabonds and bring them to justice, no matter the cost.
Meanwhile, back in France, the beautiful Eliza - toast of Versailles
and spy extraordinaire - attempts to return to London with her baby, a
child whose paternity is shrouded in mystery. Making her way home, her
ship is stopped by a French privateer and she is returned to the Sun
King's court. Thrown back into a web of international intrigue, Eliza
must contend with all manner of characters, including buccaneers,
poisoners, Jesuits, financial manipulators, and even a stray
cryptographer or two...
Neal Stephenson is the author of the novels Quicksilver,
Cryptonomicon, Snow Crash, The Diamond Age, and Zodiac. He lives in
Seattle.
