First published 2024
Tudor begins life as the youngest son of servants in the court of a Wallachian boyar. From birth, ambition drives every choice he makes. His ruthless climb to power leaves bodies scattered along the way. His path crosses with King Solomon, the Queen of Sheba, John Lennon's great-grandfather, General Napier, and Queen Victoria. Tudor transforms into Theodoros, becoming both bandit and pirate, a devout sinner who terrorizes the Greek seas. He lives in forests and monasteries, witnesses battles and miracles. Finally he emerges as Tewodros, the merciless Emperor of Emperors ruling Abyssinia with absolute power. Cărtărescu weaves together historical events with legendary tales and philosophical reflections. The narrative spans from the Creation to the Final Judgment, blending realistic scenes with supernatural elements. Stories of love and adventure unfold, both real and fantastical, sensual and brutal. At its heart lies the question of how far ambition will carry a man willing to sacrifice everything for power.
Genres: historical-fiction, 20th-century, adventure, 19th-century
Vibes: intimate, lyrical, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: epic, unreliable-narrator
Setting: Wallachian, Abyssinia, Greek Seas
Period: Creation, Final Judgment
644 pages · Paperback · Impedimenta
Content warnings: violence