Eleonora and Joseph. Passion, Tragedy, and Revolution in the Age of Enlightenment. A Novel.

Julieta Almeida Rodrigues’ novel is a character-driven story with an international setting that captures, with unwonted vividness, the cultural, social, and political landscapes of eighteenth century Europe. The narrative follows the story of two hard-working historical characters — Eleonora Fonseca Pimentel, a poet and revolutionary figure with dreams of a republic inspired by the French revolution and Joseph Correia de Serra, a diplomat and naturalist. These two figures have experienced the thrill of love in their youth. When Eleonora is imprisoned after the return of the monarchy, she pens down a memoir of Joseph, a young man who loved and left her. As an adult, Joseph will discover the memoir in Thomas Jefferson’s library.

This is a historical novel that follows the journey of two illustrious characters while exploring the political and cultural revolutions sweeping across Europe in the eighteenth century. The author’s gift for plot and character shines through this beautifully written tale. The prose is not just gorgeous but lyrical, leaving powerful sounds and fascinating imagery in the minds of readers. The historical hints are ingeniously woven into the tale’s fabric, the sophistication in character and the creativity with which the conflict is imagined and executed will leave readers rooting for these characters. Passion, conflict of ideologies, and vision are some of the compelling themes that are deftly developed. Eleonora and Joseph: Passion, Tragedy, and Revolution in the Age of Enlightenment offers a mesmerizing portrait of eighteenth century Europe and transports readers to a time of great revolutions in Europe. The author’s superior character portraits transform this narrative into a spellbinding historical novel. The well-tuned sculpting of emotional tenor will evoke a strong and favorable response for the characters.