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Roger Brook #3
The Rising Storm
Apr 1789 - Jul 1790
At Fontainebleau all seems peaceful and serene; Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette secure on their thrones. Yet as Roger Brook arrives on a secret and vital mission for Prime Minister Pitt, the smell of blood, of Revolution and the Terror is already in the air.
Intrigue, violence, suspicion – this is the maelstrom into which Roger is plunged at once. But with it: love. Isabella D'Arana is beautiful, Spanish – and married. Laws and conventions must be defied if he is to have her. Police and agents must be outwitted if he is to achieve his secret mission.
At Fontainebleau all seems peaceful and serene; Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette secure on their thrones. Yet as Roger Brook arrives on a secret and vital mission for Prime Minister Pitt, the smell of blood, of Revolution and the Terror is already in the air.
Intrigue, violence, suspicion – this is the maelstrom into which Roger is plunged at once. But with it: love. Isabella D'Arana is beautiful, Spanish – and married. Laws and conventions must be defied if he is to have her. Police and agents must be outwitted if he is to achieve his secret mission.
Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1949
2 people are currently reading
106 people want to read
About the author
Dennis Wheatley
380 books247 followersDennis Yates Wheatley (8 January 1897 – 10 November 1977) [Born: Dennis Yeats Wheatley] was an English author. His prolific output of stylish thrillers and occult novels made him one of the world's best-selling authors in the 1950s and 1960s.
His first book, Three Inquisitive People, was not immediately published; but his first published novel, The Forbidden Territory, was an immediate success when published in 1933, being reprinted seven times in seven weeks.
He wrote adventure stories, with many books in a series of linked works. His plots covered the French Revolution (Roger Brook Series), Satanism (Duc de Richleau), World War II (Gregory Sallust) and espionage (Julian Day).
In the thirties, he conceived a series of whodunit mysteries, presented as case files, with testimonies, letters, pieces of evidence such as hairs or pills. The reader had to go through the evidence to solve the mystery before unsealing the last pages of the file, which gave the answer. Four of these 'Crime Dossiers' were published: Murder Off Miami, Who Killed Robert Prentice, The Malinsay Massacre, and Herewith The Clues.
In the 1960s his publishers were selling a million copies of his books per year. A small number of his books were made into films by Hammer, of which the best known is The Devil Rides Out (book 1934, film 1968). His writing is very descriptive and in many works he manages to introduce his characters into real events while meeting real people. For example, in the Roger Brook series the main character involves himself with Napoleon, and Joséphine whilst being a spy for the Prime Minister William Pitt. Similarly, in the Gregory Sallust series, Sallust shares an evening meal with Hermann Göring.
He also wrote non-fiction works, including accounts of the Russian Revolution and King Charles II, and his autobiography. He was considered an authority on the supernatural, satanism, the practice of exorcism, and black magic, to all of which he was hostile. During his study of the paranormal, though, he joined the Ghost Club.
From 1974 through 1977 he edited a series of 45 paperback reprints for the British publisher Sphere under the heading "The Dennis Wheatley Library of the Occult", selecting the titles and writing short introductions for each book. This series included both occult-themed novels by the likes of Bram Stoker and Aleister Crowley and non-fiction works on magic, occultism, and divination by authors such as the Theosophist H. P. Blavatsky, the historian Maurice Magre, the magician Isaac Bonewits, and the palm-reader Cheiro.
Two weeks before his death in November 1977, Wheatley received conditional absolution from his old friend Cyril ‘Bobby’ Eastaugh, the Bishop of Peterborough.
His estate library was sold in a catalogue sale by Basil Blackwell's in the 1970s, indicating a thoroughly well-read individual with wide-ranging interests particularly in historical fiction and Europe. His influence has declined, partly due to difficulties in reprinting his works owing to copyright problems.
Fifty-two of Wheatley's novels were published posthumously in a set by Heron Books UK. More recently, in April 2008 Dennis Wheatley's literary estate was acquired by media company Chorion.
He invented a number of board games including Invasion.
-Wikipedia
His first book, Three Inquisitive People, was not immediately published; but his first published novel, The Forbidden Territory, was an immediate success when published in 1933, being reprinted seven times in seven weeks.
He wrote adventure stories, with many books in a series of linked works. His plots covered the French Revolution (Roger Brook Series), Satanism (Duc de Richleau), World War II (Gregory Sallust) and espionage (Julian Day).
In the thirties, he conceived a series of whodunit mysteries, presented as case files, with testimonies, letters, pieces of evidence such as hairs or pills. The reader had to go through the evidence to solve the mystery before unsealing the last pages of the file, which gave the answer. Four of these 'Crime Dossiers' were published: Murder Off Miami, Who Killed Robert Prentice, The Malinsay Massacre, and Herewith The Clues.
In the 1960s his publishers were selling a million copies of his books per year. A small number of his books were made into films by Hammer, of which the best known is The Devil Rides Out (book 1934, film 1968). His writing is very descriptive and in many works he manages to introduce his characters into real events while meeting real people. For example, in the Roger Brook series the main character involves himself with Napoleon, and Joséphine whilst being a spy for the Prime Minister William Pitt. Similarly, in the Gregory Sallust series, Sallust shares an evening meal with Hermann Göring.
He also wrote non-fiction works, including accounts of the Russian Revolution and King Charles II, and his autobiography. He was considered an authority on the supernatural, satanism, the practice of exorcism, and black magic, to all of which he was hostile. During his study of the paranormal, though, he joined the Ghost Club.
From 1974 through 1977 he edited a series of 45 paperback reprints for the British publisher Sphere under the heading "The Dennis Wheatley Library of the Occult", selecting the titles and writing short introductions for each book. This series included both occult-themed novels by the likes of Bram Stoker and Aleister Crowley and non-fiction works on magic, occultism, and divination by authors such as the Theosophist H. P. Blavatsky, the historian Maurice Magre, the magician Isaac Bonewits, and the palm-reader Cheiro.
Two weeks before his death in November 1977, Wheatley received conditional absolution from his old friend Cyril ‘Bobby’ Eastaugh, the Bishop of Peterborough.
His estate library was sold in a catalogue sale by Basil Blackwell's in the 1970s, indicating a thoroughly well-read individual with wide-ranging interests particularly in historical fiction and Europe. His influence has declined, partly due to difficulties in reprinting his works owing to copyright problems.
Fifty-two of Wheatley's novels were published posthumously in a set by Heron Books UK. More recently, in April 2008 Dennis Wheatley's literary estate was acquired by media company Chorion.
He invented a number of board games including Invasion.
-Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
October 6, 2023
Rogr Brook, a young Englishman, working as a personal secret agent for the British Prime Minister is sent to France to infiltrate the royal court of Louis the XVI and Marie Antoinette in 1789, just before the French revolution. His work results in his travels throughout France, Italy and Spain, along with a personal agenda, having fallen in love with Isabella d'Aranda, one of Marie Antoinette's ladies of the court.
The political history of Europe, the Family Compact and the history of the relationship between members of the royal family, politicians and courtiers becomes overwhelming at times, resulting in a slow paced book. The passion and love that Roger feels for Isabella, to the point where he is willing to risk his life and/or career is marred by Roger's admission that if he is successful in marrying Isabella or making her his mistress, his love is so great, that he will probably be faithful to her for a full year, before looking for another sexual conquest.
The political history of Europe, the Family Compact and the history of the relationship between members of the royal family, politicians and courtiers becomes overwhelming at times, resulting in a slow paced book. The passion and love that Roger feels for Isabella, to the point where he is willing to risk his life and/or career is marred by Roger's admission that if he is successful in marrying Isabella or making her his mistress, his love is so great, that he will probably be faithful to her for a full year, before looking for another sexual conquest.
January 28, 2021
Wheatley writes in a rather slow, ponderous and flowery way which sometimes fails to hold your attention.
This story sees the British "spy" Roger Brook in Paris during the storming of the Bastille and the beginnings of the French revolution.
A bounder and cad who relies on this charm, a bit like Flashman, he befriends Marie Antoinette and pursues one of her courtiers. The story takes us to Naples, Florence and Madrid.
Louis XVI comes across as very dull , as does Mr Pitt the PM and it is only Brook who saves the day.
Wont rush to read another in the series although i usually enjoy hostorical fiction.
This story sees the British "spy" Roger Brook in Paris during the storming of the Bastille and the beginnings of the French revolution.
A bounder and cad who relies on this charm, a bit like Flashman, he befriends Marie Antoinette and pursues one of her courtiers. The story takes us to Naples, Florence and Madrid.
Louis XVI comes across as very dull , as does Mr Pitt the PM and it is only Brook who saves the day.
Wont rush to read another in the series although i usually enjoy hostorical fiction.
May 10, 2022
The writer takes us to Spain and France during the great terror. The main character a man called Roger meets with kings and queens and finds romance while working abroad for the British prime minister as a spy. It is written so well and easy to read while being very intelligent and informative of the period
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February 2, 2024The third of the Roger Brook series.
February 12, 2017
The characters were exceptional, I loved getting to know Queen Marie Antoinette (I have always had a soft spot for her), the in-depth nature of Roger Brook, Georgina Etheredge & the Condesa Isabella. Dennis Wheatley's description of as well as the informative knowledge of the historical events surrounding the revolution in France brings fact and fiction together so well.
I had to put the book away for a while and pick it up later, as circumstances intervened preventing me from completing the book. Thank goodness I had only read the first 100 pages before having to stop so when I picked it up again a week ago I could read it straight through. It's one of those books you need to read in one continuous sitting till the end.
I had to put the book away for a while and pick it up later, as circumstances intervened preventing me from completing the book. Thank goodness I had only read the first 100 pages before having to stop so when I picked it up again a week ago I could read it straight through. It's one of those books you need to read in one continuous sitting till the end.
February 21, 2016
Book 3 in the series.
Astonishing historical revelations entwined with a love story leading up to the French revolution.
Time period 1789 - 1790.
Amazing literature.
Astonishing historical revelations entwined with a love story leading up to the French revolution.
Time period 1789 - 1790.
Amazing literature.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews