Literature Review

| A Neuchâtel exile to Parisian dirty tricks

4 reading minutes

written by Quentin Perissinotto · August 22, 2023 · 0 comment

From Neuchâtel to the Small Schemes of Paris

View of the garden at the Hôtel DuPeyrou in Neuchâtel © Quentin Perissinotto for Le Regard Libre

From the quiet suburbs of Neuchâtel to the popular uprisings in Paris, Colin Thibert takes us to the heart of the late 18th century^th century, following the trials and tribulations of an antihero who is as ambitious as he is naive. A thrilling read.

An accidental murder, and now Alexandre-Joseph Martinet-Dubied is forced to leave the family printing business and the independent principality of Neuchâtel to go into exile in Paris. He needs a new identity: from now on, he will be Alessandro Vesperelli, a native of Cremona.

Once the man arrived in the capital, it didn’t take him long to infiltrate the mansions, making full use of his charm and wiles. First, he served as the assistant to Messmer—a doctor by training and a magnetizer by profession—before personally instilling the universal fluid into Madame de Vaupertuis through graceful caresses in her private salons.

But Alessandro Vesperelli has no intention of stopping there or putting the brakes on his social rise. And so he succumbs to the charms of an elderly marquis with a passion for catoptrics and becomes his lover. The caterpillar then turns into a butterfly, and the humble servant is promoted to knight—though his appetite for the world remains unsatiated.

A Fake Lombard Knight for an Italian Theater

Colin Thibert drives his story along at a brisk pace, weaving together twists and turns, misunderstandings, and the characters’ sudden changes of heart without ever letting up. The Franco-Swiss writer draws us into a wild adventure populated by cunning forgers, eccentric aristocrats, deceitful merchants, hapless artisans, and crooked members of the upper class.

What makes this Shattered Knight As much a historical novel as an adventure novel: the author doesn’t rely on lengthy descriptions to depict the era, but brings it to life through the actions of the young antihero. The fast-paced plot doesn’t get bogged down in superfluous details and unfolds before the reader like a light-hearted comedy, full of tricks and pranks. What a delight it is to be played for a fool by this fake Lombard knight!

But it’s not just the narrative that’s full of twists and turns: the dialogue is just as lively—the exchange of biblical quotes is a marvel of humor—and the narrator’s tone oscillates between banter and eloquence, using humor to deliver a sharper jab. On the eve of the Revolution, witty remarks fly as fast as heads! There’s a certain relish in the language, and you can sense that the novelist is having just as much fun as his own characters. One thing is certain: Colin Thibert has a knack for turning a phrase. It’s enough to create a wild and unrestrained journey brimming with irreverent energy.

«On the herringbone-patterned floor, the young Swiss man seems to be dancing, the master of a ballet whose rhythm he dictates. The men admire his poise, and behind their fans, the women dream of indecencies.»

With panache and daring, Colin Thibert delivers a delightful novel that is as uplifting as it is entertaining. Few books manage to blend literature and entertainment. This Shattered Knight does it brilliantly.

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