Alsace in the Shadow of Napoleon: A Novel of Friendship and War in Napoleonic Alsace (Book One of the Jean-Luc & Anna Lise Trilogy)($29.99Value)

Description

Set in the borderlands of Alsace during the turbulent years of the French Revolution and the rise of Napoleon, Alsace Under the Shadow of Napoleon follows the coming-of-age of Jean-Luc Calliet and his closest friend, Adrien Bauck. Their childhood is shattered when a traveling guillotine arrives in their quiet town of Colmar, bringing the violence of the Revolution to their doorstep. Forced to witness the execution of a beloved priest, the boys begin to understand that their homeland-caught between French and German identities-is no longer safe from political suspicion and ideological conflict. Amid this unrest, a moment of hope emerges with the birth of Adrien's sister, Anna Lise, whose life becomes intertwined with Jean-Luc's from the very beginning. As the years pass, the boys grow into young men, shaped by hardship, family bonds, and the shifting tides of history. Through encounters with soldiers, exposure to war stories, and even a brief meeting with Napoleon himself, Jean-Luc is drawn toward a future in the army, while Adrien wrestles with the possibility that his family may be forced to leave Alsace for a safer life in Russia. As revolution gives way to empire, the novel traces the loss of innocence, the forging of identity, and the enduring strength of friendship and family. At its heart, it is a deeply human story set against a time of sweeping political change-where ordinary lives are forever altered by the ambitions of nations. Historical Novels Society Review of the Complete Jean-Luc & Anna Lise Trilogy . . . Cullen's writing is vivid and draws the reader into the life of a soldier in Napoleon's army. We feel Jean-Luc's horror over killing the enemy, but also the joys of riding the magnificent horses, the Shagyas (Kehilans), and of close comradery with his fellow soldiers. The battle scenes, especially those set in Spain and Russia, are gruesome at times, but true to life. We experience Jean-Luc's dilemma as he is forced to perform horrific acts of violence or risk being shot as a deserter. The love story provides relief from the graphic descriptions of war. The story is definitely not for the squeamish, but it reads quickly, and I could not put it down. At the end, I found myself missing Jean-Luc and his comrades because they seemed so real to me. Gary Cullen was born in St. Louis, Missouri. Because his family moved often, he spent his childhood in Alexandria, Virginia; Billings, Montana; Portland, Oregon; and ultimately Waldport, Oregon, where he graduated from high school.He began his college studies at Oregon State University, but his education was interrupted by a two year tour in the U.S. Navy aboard a refueling ship off the coast of Vietnam. That experience deepened his appreciation for learning, and shortly after completing his service, he earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Oregon and a master's degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia.Gary's professional career centered on promoting energy conservation, working with utilities and government agencies to design programs that helped customers use energy more efficiently. While raising his two children with his wife, Kathleen, he developed a lasting love for soccer and spent nearly twenty years coaching youth teams.A lifelong student of history, Gary especially enjoys reading and writing historical fiction. The foundation for the Jean Luc & Anna Lise trilogy comes from a series of recurring dreams he's experienced over the past fifty years-dreams of being in Moscow in 1812, bearing the name Jean Luc, and rescuing a girl named Anna Lise. These dreams carried him through Napoleon's retreat with all its hardships.Gary is currently retired and lives in Waldport, Oregon.