A rich and sweeping novel of courage, duty, sacrifice, and love set during the French Revolution from New York Times bestselling author Allison Pataki and her brother Owen Pataki Three years after the storming of the Bastille, the streets of Paris are roiling with revolution. The citizens of France are enlivened by the ideals of liberty, equality, and fraternity. The monarchy of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette has been dismantled—with the help of the guillotine—and a new nation is rising in its place. Jean-Luc, an idealistic young lawyer, moves his wife and their infant son from a comfortable life in Marseille to Paris, in the hopes of joining the cause. André, the son of a denounced nobleman, has evaded execution by joining the new French army. Sophie
, a young
aristocratic widow, embarks on her own fight for independence against her powerful, vindictive uncle.
As chaos threatens to undo the progress of the Revolution and the demand for justice breeds instability and paranoia, the lives of these compatriots become inextricably linked. Jean-Luc, André, and Sophie find themselves in a world where survival seems increasingly less likely—for themselves and, indeed, for the nation.
Featuring cameos from legendary figures such as Robespierre, Louis XVI, and Thomas-Alexandre Dumas,
Where the Light Falls is an epic and engrossing novel, moving from the streets and courtrooms of Paris to Napoleon’s epic march across the burning sands of Egypt. With vivid detail and imagery, the Patakis capture the hearts and minds of the citizens of France fighting for truth above all, and for their belief in a cause greater than themselves.
Praise for Where the Light Falls“Compulsively readable . . . a compelling tale of love, betrayal, sacrifice, and bravery . . . a sweeping romantic novel that takes readers to the heart of Paris and to the center of all the action of the French Revolution.”
—Bustle“Succeeds in forcefully illustrating the lessons of the French Revolution for today’s democratic movements.”
—Kirkus Reviews “Devotees of Alexandre Dumas and Victor Hugo will devour this tale of heroism, treachery, and adventure.”
—Library Journal “This is a story of the French Revolution that begins with your head in the slot watching how fast the blade of the guillotine is heading for your neck—and that’s nothing compared to the pace and the drama of what follows.”
—Tom Wolfe
On sale: April 3, 2018
Page count: 384 Pages
ISBN: 9780399591709
Allison Pataki is the
New York Times bestselling author of
The Traitor’s Wife, The Accidental Empress, and
Sisi. The daughter of former New York State governor George E. Pataki, she graduated cum laude from Yale University with a major in English. Her novels have been translated into more than a dozen languages. A former news writer and producer, Pataki has written for
The New York Times, ABC News,
The Huffington Post, USA Today, Fox News, and other outlets. She has appeared on
Today, Fox & Friends, Good Day New York, Good Day Chicago, and MSNBC’s
Morning Joe. A member of the Historical Novel Society, she lives in Chicago with her husband.
Owen Pataki graduated from Cornell University in 2010 with a degree in history. He served as a first lieutenant in the United States Army, with one deployment to Afghanistan. Following his service in the military, he attended film school in London. He now lives in New York, where he is working as a screenwriter and filmmaker. This is his first novel.
“Compulsively readable . . . a compelling tale of love, betrayal, sacrifice, and bravery . . . a sweeping romantic novel that takes readers to the heart of Paris and to the center of all the action of the French Revolution.”
—Bustle“Succeeds in forcefully illustrating the lessons of the French Revolution for today’s democratic movements.”
—Kirkus Reviews“Devotees of Alexandre Dumas and Victor Hugo will devour this tale of heroism, treachery, and adventure.”
—Library Journal “This is a story of the French Revolution that begins with your head in the slot watching how fast the blade of the guillotine is heading for your neck—and that’s nothing compared to the pace and the drama of what follows.”
—Tom Wolfe “A beautiful novel that captures the spirit of the French Revolution and the timeless themes of love and truth.”
—Steven Pressfield“While not stinting on gorgeous detail, Allison and Owen Pataki know exactly how to write a gripping historical novel that concentrates on the intimate stories playing out against the epic background of the French Revolution.”
—Melanie Benjamin, author of The Swans of Fifth Avenue“For all those who didn’t want
Les Misérables to end . . . take us past the pristine archives to the blood and bones of the French Revolution, commanding our attention and winning our hearts.”
—Sarah McCoy, author of The Mapmaker’s Children“Delivers everything a reader hopes for in a great book: passion, intrigue, insights, and, above all, a story you won’t soon forget.”
—Michelle Moran, author of Nefertiti “This luminous tale of love and betrayal in a world gone mad is as timely as it is timeless.”
—Juliet Grey, author of the Marie Antoinette trilogy Praise for Allison Pataki’s Sisi: Empress on Her Own“Allison Pataki simply stuns me with each new book. I savor each page.
Sisi is her best yet!”
—Kathie Lee Gifford“Irresistible—completely impossible to put down . . . Allison Pataki reimagines the reign of the nineteenth-century Princess Diana in this stunning book.”
—Michelle Moran, bestselling author of Rebel Queen“Pataki brings richness and relevance to the story of the woman who worked tirelessly to protect the face of an empire.”
—Publishers Weekly“Vivid, sumptuous descriptions of the Habsburg Court.”
—Jennifer Chiaverini, bestselling author of Mrs. Lincoln’s Dressmaker“A true tour de force.”
—Erika Robuck, bestselling author of Hemingway’s Girl
