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Original Essays | December 12, 2009

The Courage of Others

0 comments By Alexander McCall Smith

I have recently written a novel about life in England during the Second World War. I felt some concern before I tackled this theme — the War... Continue »

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1. 
   $16.76 Sale Hardcover add to wish list

   La's Orchestra Saves the World

   Alexander McCall Smith

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Kirsten, August 17, 2006

MacCalman, who makes no bones about his fascination with Giuseppe Balsamo, AKA Count Cagliostro, has crafted a fascinating biography that has all the pacing and suspense of a good novel. Cagliostro has been an enigma since he first gained celebrity in 18th century Europe. He was a charlatan, a greedy swindler, a lech, and he had an ego to put Rush Limbaugh to shame. He was also a surprisingly astute healer who freely shared his nostrums and knowledge of healing with the poor, and who frequently made eerily accurate prophesies. Together with his beautiful wife Seraphina, he became embroiled in just about every secret society and conspiracy theory the 18th century had to offer. MacCalman manages to give a historically factual portrait of the man behind the myth without completely dispelling the romance and intrigue surrounding him. He was an odious man, and Seraphina was little better, but upon finishing this book I still found myself fascinated and not a little awed by his achievements.

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