The Way to the Lantern

by Audrey Erskine Lindop

A huge, lusty novel of France during the French Revolution.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, France, French Revolution, Historical

429 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1961

Reviews

[Nan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is THE French Revolution novel, and hardly anyone knows about it. It's been out of print for years; mom had a copy, I loved it, lost my copy over the years and found it at the Strand. What's wonderful about it is that rather than the Revolution being the centerpiece, it's the background environment against which a very sexy, funny, and complicated story takes place. Roberts, a talented actor, gets hired by a woman to play his fiancee. She's a bit crazy and obsessive and naturally falls in love with him, demanding that he stop acting and simply play the part all the time; she's rich enough to insist on it. To escape, he fakes his own death and hides in France as the revolution unfolds.

All the supporting characters are terrific, including Lizzie, the crazy rich woman; Marie-Clarice, the revolution sympathizer who Roberts falls in love with; Puce, a little girl who Roberts catches pickpocketing him but who becomes like a little sister; and most of all, Manager Smith, the brilliant actor and con artist who takes Roberts under his wing and accompanies him through all his adventures. All the supporting figures from the revolution show up, if only peripherally, Beaumarchais, Marie Antoinette, Camille Desmoulins, Danton, Robespierre, but it's so organic to the story that they never feel intrusive.

Best of all, the book is laugh out loud funny and completely engaging. I'm reading it with my 15-year-old son now, and he loves it, so it's extremely accessible. Definitely worth finding a used copy somewhere, it's an absolute delight.

[Stella Riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is probably my favourite book of all time. It has everything. Laughter, tears, quality writing and, above all, realism. Even my husband has read it three times and enjoyed it on each occasion. No praise too high for this one.

[Ayla Berg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great story in an interesting setting, with many unexpected turns and a steady pace. There were two things that annoyed me however: the pervertedness of the protagonist's relation to (or rather addiction to) women, as well as the ominous foreshadowing at the end of every chapter. Marie Clarice's comments made up for some of that though. Would give this 3.5 stars if I could!

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is definitely in my Top 20! I have read it at least 3 times and am planning on a fourth time, if I am able to choose it for Book Club. ( Only reason I wouldn't choose it would be due to availability issues.)
It is my favorite book about the French Revolution: it is funny, historically accurate, informative and utterly poignant. It approaches the subject of erratic and irrational executions in a straight forward manner juxtaposed with preposterous, but believable, plot elements which, in turn, serve to highlight the absurd yet dire situation that truly existed during the Reign of Terror. Thus the poignancy.
The pace is quick and leads the reader on through cliff-hanging perils to hilarious entanglements to literal dead-ends. By the end you will be wishing for a sequel because although the book ends, the story never does!

[Tris Merlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an intriguing adventure story set in the French Revolution. Recommended! So atmospheric and such a great story with fabulous characters.

[Samantha Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5? 5 stars? It's so hard to decide what to rate this book. The story is brilliantly written with some of the most wonderful characters: the main character Actor Roberts (AKA Phillipe/Anthony) who is narrating, (which works very well), MS, The Puce, Lizzie, Marie Clarice - and even the ones who have much smaller roles like "the Rare Sacrifice" Water Face" "The Lapins" etc - you wont forget any of them in a hurry. The nicknames Roberts gives people he meets/ his opinions of them are hilarious ( example: "Lecherina du Lit" XD). It made me laugh, literally in some parts it's so laugh out loud funny you don't want to be drinking at the same time or you're in danger of spraying your drink everywhere. It also made me cry in parts (one character in particular who I didn't like much when they first appeared had me in tears and wishing for a miraculous rescue by the time their fate catches up with them). This book is entertaining throughout, full of twists and turns you wouldn't expect, and cliff hangers at the end of chapters that make you want more, but at the same time there's realism, the characters and settings are believable, it doesn't hide the horrors and precarious nature of living in France, particularly Paris, during the turbulent times it's set in (from the beginning of the French revolution to when it's at it's worst though the revolution doesn't completely dominate the story or take away from the fun parts) while fact blends with fiction so you get a good sense of why things happened and what it was like. Actor Roberts is no hero, he's a trickster with plenty of faults, but it makes him human, and he finds along the way that he does actually have a heart. Why is this gem out of print or not more widely known? Why is there not a film or TV series of it ? (that would be brilliant. Most books I'm not so keen on the idea but this one would be perfect) and most importantly, why is there not a sequel!! it's absolutely crying out for one (so am I!). Loved it, but it does kind of end on a cliffhanger, as if there's meant to be a follow up book.. so can someone please write one? I need to know what happens next!

[Tobie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Historical fiction set before and during the French Revolution. Quite a bit of humor even while characters are facing the guillotine. It would have enhanced my experience if I knew French, but not critical to understand the story. Do you know to what the title refers? You will be the end, er, almost the end of the book. Also, not a short book, but very enjoyable.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fast paced novel full of adventure and sympathetic characters that I didn't want to put down.

[Fredrick Mudzanire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite amusing!!!

[Mely]

http://skygiants.dreamwidth.org/46990...

[Aditya Krishnakant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Roberts, Manager Smith and The Puce/Suzon will win your heart by the time you finish reading this amazing book. Such a delightful characters. Manager Smith as the ever dependable fatherly figure who teaches Roberts every trick in life with such genius, The Puce who leads life with her indomitable spirit is such a pure delight, and Roberts who is ready to sacrifice his happiness for the sake of The Puce and Manager Smith is heart touching. One more character who will touch your heart is Madame de Faille. She sacrifices everything for her love.

A reader can clearly feel the troubles people had faced in French Revolution. Each line had a story and suspense embedded in it. A reader will not find a single dull moment. Marvelous work by the author!

[Lofty · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first read this book 40 years ago and loved it but somehow lost the copy. I found it in a rare and used bookstore here in Boca Raton recently and re-read it and found it still a wonderful and endearing story. One cannot help but love the three protagonists, the avuncular Manager Smith, the adventurous Mr.Roberts/Buckland/Viscount Phillipe de Lambriere, and the 'pestilential' urchin Suzon (the Puce).

There are many similarities between this book and Dicken's A Tale of Two Cities. Lindop makes great use of research and facts for the period. I will definitely recommend this to anyone who likes to read historical novels. I will guard this copy zealously.

JJL

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A favorite novel from my high school days -- found a copy while prowling through the now sadly defunct Bertrand Smith's Acres of Books in downtown Cincinnati. This book relates the misadventures of a young actor, Roberts, against the backdrop of the French Revolution -- hilarious and entertaining while giving a good look at the real "characters" of the Revolution in all its perils and progress. I always thought this book would make a really good film. Other Lindop novels I have enjoyed are Sight Unseen and I Start Counting, all difficult to come by these days outside of used book outlets.

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this so many years ago but it has stuck with me all this time. Was hoping there was an audible version but no such luck, not even an ebook.
This is a fun and lovely story of innocents or almost innocents caught uo in the reign of terror that was the French Revolution. Truly an engaging set of characters in a well told tale.

[Margareth8537 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an exceptional story set at the time of the French Revolution, but not really about it. It is about the characters and they come across as human, funny, sad.