First published 1979
Joseph Bosham calls himself the third Viscount of Bosham, though his bloodline tells a different story. His father was a half-English Catholic priest, his mother an Italian brothel keeper. Born in 1790, Joseph receives an education in mathematics, music, and philosophy, but his true talents lie in storytelling and less virtuous pursuits. He settles in Spain just as the great armies of Wellington and Napoleon converge on the peninsula. At eleven years old, Joseph falls under the spell of battle's chaotic allure. For the next fifteen years, war tosses him from role to role. He serves as courier, pimp, linguist, mercenary, and mascot to various masters. Around him, gypsies clash with devil worshippers while the remnants of the Inquisition fight for territory against invading forces. Joseph's survival depends on his wits and adaptability. His account of these years weaves together comedy and pathos, revealing both the absurdity and brutality of war through the eyes of someone who learned to navigate its margins.
Genres: historical-fiction, 20th-century, adventure, 19th-century
Vibes: emotional, fast-paced, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, unreliable-narrator
Setting: Spain, Italy
Period: 1790, Napoleonic Wars
480 pages · Hardcover · Joseph
Content warnings: violence, war