Uncle Bernac: A Memory of the Empire

by Arthur Conan Doyle

Overview

This was one of several fictional historical works that Doyle wrote during the last five years of the 19th century, as he tried to find something to replace Sherlock Holmes, whom he had killed off at the end of 1894. Doyle was later to dismiss this book as a failure, though he always liked his lengthy description of Napoleon (which he actually had written before beginning the book) -- ".. I was still unable to determine whether I was dealing with a great hero or with a great scoundrel. Of the adjective only could I be sure."

This murder mystery novel relates the story of a young Frenchman, who, grown up in England, returns to France during the time of Napoleon Bonaparte's "Prise de pouvoir" to offer him his services, and the adventures this causes him to be involved in.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781775419044
Publisher:	The Floating Press
Publication date:	09/01/2010
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	246 KB

About the Author

Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle KStJ DL (22 May 1859 - 7 July 1930) was a British writer best known for his detective fiction featuring the character Sherlock Holmes. Originally a physician, in 1887 he published A Study in Scarlet, the first of four novels and more than fifty short stories about Holmes and Dr. Watson. The Sherlock Holmes stories are generally considered milestones in the field of crime fiction.
Doyle was a prolific writer; his non-Sherlockian works include fantasy and science fiction stories about Professor Challenger and humorous stories about the Napoleonic soldier Brigadier Gerard, as well as plays, romances, poetry, non-fiction and historical novels. One of Doyle's early short stories, "J. Habakuk Jephson's Statement", helped to popularise the mystery of the Mary Celeste.
Doyle is often referred to as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle or simply Conan Doyle (implying that "Conan" is part of a compound surname as opposed to his given middle name). His baptism entry in the register of St Mary's Cathedral, Edinburgh, gives "Arthur Ignatius Conan" as his given names and "Doyle" as his surname. It also names Michael Conan as his godfather.[1] The cataloguers of the British Libraryand the Library of Congress treat "Doyle" alone as his surname.
Steven Doyle, editor of The Baker Street Journal, wrote, "Conan was Arthur's middle name. Shortly after he graduated from high school he began using Conan as a sort of surname. But technically his last name is simply 'Doyle'."[3] When knighted, he was gazetted as Doyle, not under the compound Conan Doyle
Doyle was born on 22 May 1859 at 11 Picardy Place, Edinburgh, Scotland. His father, Charles Altamont Doyle, was born in England, of Irish Catholic descent, and his mother, Mary (née Foley), was Irish Catholic. His parents married in 1855.[7] In 1864 the family dispersed because of Charles's growing alcoholism, and the children were temporarily housed across Edinburgh. In 1867, the family came together again and lived in squalid tenement flats at 3 Sciennes Place.[8] Doyle's father died in 1893, in the Crichton Royal, Dumfries, after many years of psychiatric illness.

Date of Birth:

May 22, 1859

Date of Death:

July 7, 1930

Place of Birth:

Edinburgh, Scotland

Place of Death:

Crowborough, Sussex, England

Education:

Edinburgh University, B.M., 1881; M.D., 1885

Table of Contents

Chapter I	The Coast of France	3
Chapter II	The Salt-Marsh	20
Chapter III	The Ruined Cottage	33
Chapter IV	Men of the Night	41
Chapter V	The Law	55
Chapter VI	The Secret Passage	68
Chapter VII	The Owner of Grosbois	81
Chapter VIII	Cousin Sibylle	92
Chapter IX	The Camp of Boulogne	106
Chapter X	The Ante-Room	120
Chapter XI	The Secretary	136
Chapter XII	The Man of Action	147
Chapter XIII	The Man of Dreams	173
Chapter XIV	Josephine	189
Chapter XV	The Reception of the Empress	203
Chapter XVI	The Library of Grosbois	226
Chapter XVII	The End	245