http://shelfandstuff.blogspot.com/2010/07/french-blue-by-richard-wise.html ( )

The book was given to me as part of Richard W. Wise's HobNob Giveaway. The style is easy to read and to follow; the mix of images and text is spacious, consistent and the chapters are clearly separated from each others. In terms of format, I always enjoy a 'justified' form of editing, maybe it comes from being shortsighted and astigmatic, but a regular, consistent text form is easier on the eye.

The historical plot is well researched and I was pleasantly surprised by how good and easy to read the book was - it got me to know about a part of French history (with the life of Tavernier) and gems (I am no gemstone connoisseur). The plot mixes life experience, travel, family matters and a love story, all well distributed within the plot; not one theme is more important than the other, the reading pace is even and there was not a single glitch to the narrative that would have come to my attention.

In the end, the book has entertained me in those last couple of hot Summer days of holidays in Burgundy, and I would recommend the book to anyone wanting to read a good historical novel. After all, if diamonds are a girl's best friends, those virtual ones were refreshing enough for the Summer! ( )

In his historical novel, The French Blue, author Richard Wise tells the amazing story of Jean Baptiste Tavernier, a 17th Century traveler and gem merchant. Son of a cartographer in Paris, he becomes fascinated with gemology and leaves home at an early age to travel to Persia and India to learn about pearls, rubies, and diamonds. He eventually becomes a highly respected gem dealer, buying for Cardinal Richelieu, Louis XIV and other nobles The title refers to his greatest find, an amazing blue diamond that eventually came to be known as the Hope Diamond. Most of the novel describes Tavernier's travels though exotic lands and his dealings with merchants and royalty. Wise does an amazing job of describing the physical conditions of travel, risky at best, and the cultural environments Tavernier has to navigate. The best historical novels whisk you away to another time and place and give you a real sense of being there. Wise is a master at this. I was not familiar with this character before I read the book, and I found it very helpful that he includes an appendix which explains the fictional aspects of the story. If you like historical fiction, this book is a must read. I couldn't put it down! ( )

Jean-Baptiste Tavernier was a gem trader in the seventeenth century who completed six voyages through Persia and India and is perhaps most widely remembered for his discovery of The French Blue; an enormous blue diamond that was eventually recut into The Hope Diamond. Tavernier's life and astounding adventurers form the basis of Richard W. Wise's historical fiction work The French Blue: An Illustrated Novel of the Seventeenth Century.

Wise did a magnificent job in choosing the subject for his book, as Tavernier proves to be a fascinating protagonist. From the pearl divers of Persia to the diamond mines in India and the splendors of the court at Versailles, the story is ripe with action and information and peppered with romance and politics. The tale moves at a perfect pace and Wise's skill at research is equal to his mastery of prose, as the fictional and factual characters are seamlessly blended together - and sometimes nearly indistinguishable. The inclusion of figures and illustrations also add a wonderful seasoning to an expertly constructed work.

The French Blue was a highly enjoyable novel. Much like the gems described throughout the plot, this is a book that is eye-catching, intriguing, and overall a stunning treasure. ( )

There are a few books that you feel you have to rush through to see what will happen next. Then when you have finished, you wish that it could have continued. This is one of those books. Jean-Baptiste Tavernier, was a traveler, merchant and gem trader extraordinaire. In the mid 1600's, he left his native France to travel to Persia, India, and the Far East to search for the world's rarest gems. During his six voyages, that spanned over thirty-six years, he met and traded with kings, princes, shahs, and, potentates. Among them Cardinal Richelieu, ministers Mazarin, and Colbert of France, The Great Mogul of India, Shah Jahan, of India, who built the Taj Mahal to honor his deceased wife, also the Shah of Persia, and of course, Louis XIV, the Sun King, of France. Jean sold to Louis XIV, the rarest gem in the world, The French Blue. A blue diamond weighing over 112 carats, uncut. Over the years this gem would be cut twice, eventually becoming what is now known as the Hope Diamond. Add in adventure and excitement in foreign lands and a smattering of romance that spans two continents and you have a perfect summer read. A welcome addition to any collection. ( )