Synopses & Reviews
A chronicle of the breathtaking exploits of "Half-Cocked Jack" Shaftoe -- London street urchin-turned-legendary swashbuckling adventurer -- risking life and limb for fortune and love while slowly maddening from the pox. . . and Eliza, rescued by Jack from a Turkish harem to become spy, confidante, and pawn of royals in order to reinvent a contentious continent through the newborn power of finance.
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“[A]n awe-inspiring book, stuffed with heart-stopping action scenes ... and a treasure trove of forgotten historical lore.” Book
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“An astonishing achievement.” Sunday Telegraph
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“[O]ften brilliant and occassionally astonishing ...[QUICKSILVER] has wit, ambition and ... moments of real genius.” Book World
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“Dense, witty, erudite ... and gripping ... a far more impressive literary endeavor than most so-called “serious” fiction.” Independent
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“Genius . . . Youll wish it were longer.” Time magazine
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“[QUICKSILVER] is a rare thing: a 1,000-page book that you dont want to end. San Antonio Express-News
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“[QUICKSILVER] explores the philosophical concerns of today . . . through thrillingly clever, suspenseful and amusing plot twists.” New York Times Book Review
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“Sprawling, irreverent, and ultimately profound.” Newsweek
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“Stephensons new machine is a wonderment to behold. A-” Entertainment Weekly
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“A sprawling, engrossing tale.” Seattle Times
About the Author
Neal Stephenson is the author of Reamde, Anathem, and the three-volume historical epic the Baroque Cycle (Quicksilver, The Confusion, and The System of the World), as well as Cryptonomicon, The Diamond Age, Snow Crash, and Zodiac. He lives in Seattle, Washington.