Teaser Tuesday: The Coral Thief

It may take me a while, but sooner or later I do get to those books I am constantly thinking and talking about.  I've checked out Rebecca Stott's The Coral Thief from the library several times, but it seems now is simply the right time to read it.  Paris in 1815 (warm, sunny Paris in July, too) is far more interesting than what I see outside my window today.  What I see is a sky filled with endless gray clouds and thick fog, which has unfortunately been going on for days and days.  Much better to escape into a novel, I think. 

The Coral Thief concerns a young student of natural history who is traveling to Paris after Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo.  After studying in Edinburgh he's thrilled to be going to such an exciting city to continue his research under the tutelage of the legendary Dr. Cuvier like so many other young men at the time.  However, he makes the mistake of falling asleep on the mail coach en route to Paris.  Sitting next to him is a beautiful young woman with a child who speaks perfect English and speaks to him of the new scientific thinking that's going on.  In the morning when he wakes he discovers his bag is missing.  His bag with all his notebooks, a manuscript, and rare coral fossils are gone.  And so is the beautiful young woman.  

"I tried to make out the full magnitude of what had happened.  Professor Jameson, I reminded myself, seeking to build bridges between British and French science now that the war was finally over, had entrusted me with gifts and a manuscript to take to professor Cuvier, probably the most important man of science in France.  The specimens and the manuscript were irreplaceable.  The loss was not only an embarrassment, it was a scandal.  This would almost certainly mean my return to the gray streets of Edinburgh, or to my father's house, shamed.  Even if I went to the police and could make myself understood, even if the specimens were found returned, the story would be the same: Daniel Connor had lost the rare and irreplaceable gifts entrusted to his care because he had dropped his guard and fallen asleep on the mail coach, seduced into a false sense of security by a beautiful woman.  It was pitiable."

How long do you think it will take until the beautiful young woman shows up again?  Not long at all I expect.

Comments

[Kathy]

This book is on my "to read" list also. It sounds intriguing and I hope to get to it this year, too. Hope you enjoy the rest of it! I've been enjoying your posts and jotting down book titles that sound good from your descriptions. Isn't it great that we can escape to another realm when what's outside the window isn't so appealing?

[litlove]

Hmmm, I wonder whether there are any cheap second hand copies of this yet available with amazon marketplace sellers..... It's so tempting!

[Simon (Savidge Reads)]

I have this on the TBR and you have reminded me just how much I need to read this book.

[catharina]

This is one my library recently has acquired(and in translation), it looks like this time I will be the first to check it out!

[Escaping Into A Book]

This does sound very interesting, and just my type of book! Am going to try and start going to the library, in an attempt to curb my book buying, so maybe this is one I'll look out for there!

[Tiina]

Oh, sunny Paris in 1815! :) I'd love to read this book. I'm looking forward to your review.

Greetings,
Tiina

[Zoya]

I've read about this book somewhere but seeing your review here has put this book on my TBR pile! :) Thanks again.

[Dorothy W.]

This sounds like fun -- what a situation to find oneself in! I agree with Tiina that Paris in 1815 sounds very fun to read about.

[Danielle]

Kathy--Yes! I don't know what I'd do without a good book close at hand. I'm really enjoying the Stott--it was a little slow at first, but now I find I don't want to put it down. It took me three times borrowing from the library, but now seems to be the right time to read it!
Litlove--I love those marketplace sellers--especially the ones selling their books for a penny! I love the period and she's getting me interested in reading about natural history, too. Isn't she a fellow Cambridge resident?
Simon--Yes, bump it up the TBR pile. It's a good book for this time of year. Paris in the summer, what a lovely thought. And now, of course I am totally wrapped up in Daniel's attempts to get his coral back!
Catharina--Do give it a try! I'm really enjoying it. Mine is from the library, too. It keeps my mind off the gray weather!
Escaping into a Book--I love libraries and use mine all the time. I wish I could also curb my purchases, but I still buy more than I should. New books I don't want to buy in hardcover always come from the library, though.
Tiina--Sunny Paris sounds so nice. I don't think we're forecast to have sunshine until next week sometime!! This is such good escapism until then.
Zoya--It's nice getting a little taste ahead of time, isn't it, to try and decide if a book sounds good. I hope you enjoy it if you do pick it up!
Dorothy--It sounds like it was such an interesting time with all the new philosophies and science. Of course Paris anytime always appeals to me. And the story was a bit slow starting, but I'm totally wrapped up in things now.

[Cath]

My 'look out for' list for January is getting longer than my arm but I'm going to have to add this one to it too. Sounds very intriguing!

[Vipula]

Just read this today. The extract is enticing enough. I love to read books that are set in major cities...that bring in the essence of the place in them.

[Danielle]

Cath--I know the feeling! I'm enjoying this one. It's not necessarily a fast mover, but I'm wrapped up in things anyway.
Vipula--I also love books set in places like Paris--I love getting a feel for a place. I think that's why I tend to read books with European settings (or outside the US anyway)--to see what it's like to live elsewhere!