9780062309167
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The Three Emperors audiobook

  • By: William Dietrich
  • Narrator: William Dufris
  • Length: 11 hours 44 minutes
  • Publisher: HarperAudio
  • Publish date: May 06, 2014
  • Language: English
  • (362 ratings)
(362 ratings)
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The Three Emperors Audiobook Summary

Adventurer Ethan Gage travels through the darkest and most superstitious realms of eighteenth century Europe, to the castles and caves of Bohemia to rescue his family and uncover a mysterious medieval device rumored to foretell the future.

Having quick-wittedly survived the battle of Trafalgar, Ethan is rushing to rescue “Egyptian priestess” Astiza and son Harry from imprisonment by a ruthless mystic who seeks revenge for disfigurement, and an evil dwarf alchemist who experiments with the occult on Prague’s Golden Lane.

Using death as his ruse, and a pair of unlikely allies–a Jewish Napoleonic soldier and his sutler father–Ethan must decipher clues from Durendal, the sword of Roland. Astiza uses her own research to concoct an explosive escape and find a lost tomb, their tormentors in relentless pursuit.

William Dietrich skillfully weaves intrigue and magic, romance and danger in a historical thriller that sprints from the fury of Napoleonic war to the mystic puzzles of Central Europe. What enigmas will the fabled Brazen Head finally reveal?

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The Three Emperors Audiobook Narrator

William Dufris is the narrator of The Three Emperors audiobook that was written by William Dietrich

William Dietrich is the author of fourteen novels, including six previous Ethan Gage titles–Napoleon's Pyramids, The Rosetta Key, The Dakota Cipher, The Barbary Pirates, The Emerald Storm, and The Barbed Crown. Dietrich is also a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, historian, and naturalist. A winner of the PNBA Award for Nonfiction, he lives in Washington State.

About the Author(s) of The Three Emperors

William Dietrich is the author of The Three Emperors

The Three Emperors Full Details

Narrator William Dufris
Length 11 hours 44 minutes
Author William Dietrich
Publisher HarperAudio
Release date May 06, 2014
ISBN 9780062309167

Additional info

The publisher of the The Three Emperors is HarperAudio. The imprint is HarperAudio. It is supplied by HarperAudio. The ISBN-13 is 9780062309167.

Global Availability

This book is only available in the United States.

Goodreads Reviews

Benjamin

February 20, 2015

The 7th and (so far) final novel in the Ethan Gage series continues the fine tradition of swashbuckling adventure as in all of the previous volumes. Ethan Gage describes himself as “Advisor, historian, seer, electrician, diplomat, and military consultant; a confidant of President Jefferson, and scholar of civilization.” His adversaries would use different words such as rogue, scoundrel, gambler, thief, deserter, and the like. What’s interesting about these books is that both perspectives are correct.This novel continues the grand adventure that began in the previous book, The Barbed Crown, with the central emphasis on recovering the lost and perhaps not even real medieval treasure known as the “Brazen head”, an automaton that is rumored to be able to predict the future. The quest actually started in the previous book but was sidetracked by all sorts of interesting historical events and the separation of Ethan from his wife and son. Now as he tries to reunite with them once again his adventures take him back once more to Napoleon’s side (and, in fact, is the one who must tell Napoleon of the great naval loss at Trafalgar). As always, despite his best laid plans, chance and circumstance dictate Ethan’s path and he finds himself fighting as a foot soldier on the French side during the pivotal battle at Austerlitz against the Russians and the Austrians. As always, the author waves actual historical events, people and places into the narrative, providing a wonderful sense of crazy reality.For the first time in the series, some of the chapters are told from the point of view of Astiza, Ethan’s wife. One chapter is even told from his very young son’s viewpoint. All are in first person but this offers an interesting perspective, given that up until now we really didn’t know Astiza’s thoughts on various events or even, indeed, about Ethan. This really made her come alive in my mind instead of being just another character as in previous books in the series.According the author’s website, he is working on another Ethan Gage novel. If for some reason that does not ever bear fruit, then this is a nice place to end the series. Even though there is much left in the Napoleonic basket of history from which to pluck adventures, the end of this book does find Ethan and his little family in a good place and with a plan for their future.I, for one, will be hoping for more of Ethan Gage.

Claude

July 30, 2017

A great adventure, really Ethan should be ashamed to be so lucky. However, the timeline was a little hard to follow.

Dan

June 11, 2018

Would have given it 4.5 stars if possible. The blending of history with a fanciful tale has much to offer. Could not believe the plethora of historical facts blended throughout

Kathy

April 29, 2018

Definitely keeps me laughing and trying to figure out what Ethan will get himself into next.

Rachel

January 07, 2015

Ethan Gage, at it yet again in another frisky and fun adventure in Dietrich’s series of books about the turn-of-the-19th-century adventurer and treasure-seeker.In The Three Emperors, our noble hero has survived the historic Battle of Trafalgar – and escaped both British and French control by sailing away to Venice, where he now picks up the search for his wife, Astiza, and his son, Harry. The family had become separated during Napoleon’s coronation some months before when their plot to have Napoleon crowned with the Crown of Thorns went horribly awry. First, however, Ethan needs some traveling money and he tries to gain it the only way he knows how: gambling. Luck in gambling doesn’t necessarily mean luck in selecting gambling partners, because of course, Ethan runs afoul of an opponent, a horribly scarred and disfigured baron who, before Gage manages to piss him off, drops cryptic hints that indicate he knows the whereabouts of Ethan’s family. And another adventure begins! Ethan, on the run from said baron, is caught yet again by Napoleon and this time, he finds himself on the front lines of the new emperor’s army as it goes up against the Austrians and the Russians in the devastating Battle of Austerlitz. Meanwhile, Astiza and Harry, still searching for the Brazen Head of Albert Magnus, have found themselves in Prague, and when a new friend betrays them, they are taken prisoner by a malicious and sadistic dwarf who also seeks the historic relic. Locked in a dungeon, Astiza’s only hope of finding the Head, keeping it out of the hands of the enemy, and reuniting her family, is to develop the Philosopher’s Stone – the alchemical compound that can turn lead into gold and grant those who drink it eternal life.Can Astiza make the compound? Will she? And will Ethan survive life as an infantryman in Napoleon’s army long enough to find his wife and son?Yes, another great romp through history, with enjoyable characters along for the ride. In fact, this particular iteration held some surprises. The first was watching Ethan start to grow up. His wayward life of gambling, aimless wandering, and playing with electricity has been replaced with purpose: a family. In The Three Emperors, Gage starts to feel the effects of his previous life, and how his decisions are impacting his family. He starts to see how his choices to gamble, hunt for treasure, and try to get rich keep putting his family in danger. And his outlook starts to change. Secondly, The Three Emperors differs from previous installments in that we, as readers, finally get to read from Astiza’s POV. Switching back and forth between Ethan and Astiza, Dietrich crafts a compelling story that bridges the adventurers while they are separated and seeking each other, and provides more insight into Astiza herself. A good thing. She is a great character.The Three Emperors is also darker than previous Ethan Gage novels. While Ethan and Astiza have always been caught up in devastating and tragic adventures, they often handle them in the same stride as say Indiana Jones or Ben Gates (of the National Treasure franchise). In The Three Emperors, the two face rape, cannibalism, and deep-rooted betrayal, and while there is still some stride handling, these are some more difficult challenges to stride handle than your typical action fare: blow ‘em up and kill ‘em all. In other words, it is harder to brush off a sadistic dwarf that wants to eat children than it is to brush off running through a storm of bullets where everyone around you is falling… in an action and adventure novel that is.But Dietrich doesn’t disappoint! Dark as it may seem, The Three Emperors is still a great escapism ride. How long until #8??

Ray

May 20, 2014

Ethan Gage is a cad. Ethan Gage is a scoundrel. Ethan Gage is also the hero/anti-hero of this terrific historical thriller series by William Dietrich set in the Napoleonic age.When I think of Ethan Gage I visualize a man with the adventurous spirit of Indiana Jones along with the cantankerous rascality of Captain Jack Sparrow. He is married to an Egyptian beauty named Astiza who bore him a son named Horus. He is American but has claimed allegiance to Great Britain as well as Napoleon's France --- depending on the situation or simply to save his own skin.As THE THREE EMPERORS opens, Ethan Gage is thought to be dead after the battle at the end of the previous adventure. He is traveling in Venice under the guise of Hieronymus Franklin --- an alleged descendent of the deceased American inventor and politician, Benjamin Franklin. But, since this is an Ethan Gage adventure, his anonymity is most assuredly going to be short-lived!Astiza and Harry are imprisoned by a ruthless man named Richter who fancies himself a mystic. He works in conjunction with an evil dwarf named Auric and the two of them have spearheaded a small army in pursuit of the Brazen Head. Medieval legend has it that the Brazen Head built by Albertus Magnus could foretell the future. It is also alleged that this object was destroyed by Saint Thomas Aquinas. Should it still exist it could purportedly give the owner a huge advantage over all adversaries.Once Ethan's cover is blown he drops the Franklin moniker and finds himself back in front of his old nemesis (and sometime employer) --- Napoleon Bonaparte. Bonaparte has no problem supporting Ethan's mission to recover his wife and child as long as he pursues the Brazen Head at the same time. Gage --- being an American neutral --- agrees to this but secretly remains a man who just wants his family back.Ethan finds an unlikely ally in the person of Jewish Napoleonic soldier, Gideon Mandel. He owes his life to Gideon who saved him from demise at the battle of Austerlitz. It turns out Gideon's father is a Rabbi who has knowledge of both the legendary Golem as well as the Brazen Head. Armed with this newfound understanding of what he is after, Ethan journeys on to face off with a colorful cast of villains who stand in the way of his family reunion as well as obtaining the mythical Brazen Head.As with all of William Dietrich's Ethan Gage novels, THE THREE EMPERORS is steeped in history and most of the people and events depicted within are real. Never has European and World History been so much fun! You need not to have read the prior Ethan Gage adventures to enjoy this one -- - however, those who have will delight in the characters from prior stories who regularly appear. Readers who jump on board for this seventh Ethan Gage adventure will be pleasantly rewarded with an engaging, fun and stimulating adventure that will make you long to be in our hero's company again. This adventure ends on the doorstep of the Russian Empire --- could this be the setting for Ethan's next adventure? Stay tuned!Reviewed by Ray Palen for New Mystery Reader

Zeb

June 14, 2014

This is the seventh book in the Ethan Gage series, but my first. Though I haven’t read any of the Gage books, I have read some of Dietrich’s other works. This one has the feel of “Flashman” or “Sharp”, an adventurer during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. Gage describes himself as a follower of the philosophy of Benjamin Franklin, but this is probably just a ruse and he is a promoter of Gage and no one else.This book picks up after the Battle of Trafalgar, where Gage was on the losing French side. He turns up in Venice looking for news of his family, his wife Astiza and his five year old son Horus (called Harry). He hears that she is somewhere in Bohemia, on the trail of the “brazen head”. The Head was built by the great alchemist Albertus Magnus. It was rumored that the Head could foretell the future. Being thought demonic Saint Thomas Aquinas destroyed the Head in the twelfth century. Or did he?The Head was said to have last been in the hands of Christian Rosenkreuz the founder of the Rosicrucian Order (Rose Cross) in the seventeenth century. Rosenkreuz had hidden the Head somewhere in Bohemia, and that’s where Gage’s wife and son were. To raise money, Gage goes to a mid-level gambling house where he comes upon a man calling himself Baron Richter. They gamble for high stakes with Richter winning. But Gage and others suspect the Baron of cheating and Gage robs him and takes off for Bohemia.Now Gage ends up in Napoleon’s army on its way to battle the Emperors of Austria and Russia at Austerlitz. Gage has worked for Napoleon before and ends up escaping him but not the battle. Gage dresses up as a private and ends up in the middle of the battle first against the Austrians and then the Russians. During the commotion after the battle the wounded Gage escapes with the help of an impressed Jew, to the Ghetto of Prague.The rest of the story follows Gage as he searches and finds his wife and son. His wife has fallen into the clutches of the evil Baron Richter (how coincidental) and his minion, a manic dwarf (aren’t they all) named Auric. Astiza promises the Baron that she can turn lead into gold. While she is killing time with her false alchemical pursuits, Gage catches up to them. Blah Blah Blah Blah, they are imprisoned, blah blah blah, they get away. Bad men all dead.Not bad and a real release from the mundane books about Zombies and archers.Zeb Kantrowitz zworstblog.blogspot.com

M.

June 04, 2021

The Ethan Gage books by William Dietrich are amazing. The 5 stars I give are as much for the series as this book. All are good on their own, but many deserve that 5 star rating. It helps if you have read the other 6 books to fully appreciate this one. Without them maybe this one might only be 4 stars. Ethan Gage in this instillation of mayhem in the early 1800s is back at it, as an American rogue in central Europe. He's exciting, daring, unconventional, but mostly fun. Ethan can shoot, fight, and gamble better than most and as a Franklin man and electrician he has the most marvelous escapes, usually into more trouble.The villain's in this book and the series are top notch. Some are evil and dark, others are tempting and beautiful. They are all so very interesting and usually Dietrich provides several in a book. My top rating for this book is bitter sweet, William Dietrich seems to have stopped writing. Alas, there is only one more of the series left for me to read, "The Trojan Icon" by a different publisher. Maybe, I'll go back and read a couple of my favorites before finishing the last in the series. "The Dakota Cipher", "The Emerald Storm" and "The Barbary Pirates' are all worth a second read.

Doug

March 27, 2015

This was my introduction the world of Ethan Gage. I now need to buy the six previous novels to truly fill out my grasp of the hero of this story! First, there is always the challenge of jumping into a book series without doing your background work. I did not know anything about Gage, so there were some obvious gaps in my knowledge reading this one. He refers back, at times, to events that a new reader will not understand. That's the price you pay.Second, the historical setting works. I have read a decent amount of both non-fiction and fiction in this era, having devoured works like Forester's Hornblower series as well as just loving to read history. (I don't always remember it well, but I love to read it.) It was a time of chaos and superstition, alongside the science and open religion. Dietrich portrays this well.Third, the plot is good. There are the competing and complementing needs to both stop the bad guys and reunite the family. These weave together nicely. As Dietrich pulls in some of the fantasy-type elements, the world does get a little bizarre, but you're reading a novel, not a history book.Is it worth your time? I think so. But it's also expensive, because now I've got to go back and pick up all six prior Ethan Gage novels, because I'm intrigued.

Terra

November 05, 2014

This is a rollicking adventure series set in 1805 and follows the hero/anti-hero Nathan Gage and his wife, the Egyptian priestess Astiza, as they struggle to find each other and to stay alive. Astiza is imprisoned and forced to use her alchemy skills to turn base metal into gold, with their son Harry’s life forfeit if she doesn’t succeed. Gage is an American adventurer and he is very sorry to be thrust into Napoleon’s presence again. Napoleon is a dangerous man and while he respects Gage, he slows him in his search for Astiza. Gage has many clever thoughts, some of them humorous. Of Napoleon he thought that he is "dangerous as adders, but seductive as succubi." Magic, romance, war and danger on are every page so there is never a dull chapter. This book is number 7 in the series and now I want to read the first book in this series titled “Napoleon’s Pyramids.”

T.R.

June 19, 2014

Ethan Gage just isn't as much fun as he was before he got married to Aztisa. I like Aztisa, but I do think that she either needs to play her part in these stories better, or be written out of the story. Although, I kind of fear that because I wouldn't want to see Ethan become all melancholy and weepy. Oh, well. It's out of my hands. The search for the Brazen Head - this episode's mystical relic - sees Aztisa and Harry imprisoned by a cult leader while Ethan manages inadvertently self-conscript himself into Napoleon's army. Battles rage - not just on the battle field, but in the hearts and minds of all involved. Will Ethan every find his family? Will they ever find the Brazen Head? Will the adventures ever end? I hope not!

Jack

May 26, 2014

The seventh, and newest, book in the Ethan Gage series is one of the best. Filled with it's normal twists and turns, the hero and his family are once again caught in the middle of an array of events that can change history. William Dietrich provides a totally exhilarating, fast paced thriller and weaves many historical facts and unusual tidbits into his story, making the book both enjoyable and informative. For those that have not read any books in this series, I recommend that you start with book one, as some of the story line builds upon earlier characters and events. For anyone that enjoys an "Indiana Jones" type adventure, these are must reads.

Scott

February 17, 2014

First I want to thank the publisher for giving me a chance to read an advanced copy to review.Another great Ethan Gage novel. Dietrich really does his research. There are so many factual events used in this Fiction Historical novel, that the events seem plausible. There is adventure, suspense, and intrigue. Ethan has a way of getting side-tracked, but always ends up where he is needed right on time to save his family and find the mysterious object that was his intended quest from the beginning. Readers will enjoy the twists and turns, and will not stop reading until the conclusion.

Ryan

May 21, 2014

Ethan Gage, the rogue adventurer from America, returns in this series set in the early 1800s. This is set primarily in eastern Europe during the Napoleanic battle of Austerlitz. Ethan struggles to reunite with his family, while his enemies search him, all the time searching for a treasure. This is a nice rebound to the series after a couple of mediocre entries, I really enjoyed it. The best part is of course another face-to-face meeting with Napolean. I'd recommend this series to anyone who enjoys adventure novels and this time period.

Diana

May 11, 2014

This is a marvelous book.I really love the way William Dietrich gather all the stories. Ethan Gage adventures have them all. They have magic, history, fiction and love.It is like being there with him sharing his journey to reunite with his family. My imagination went crazy thinking about the situations EG had to live and the places he had to go to rescue his wife and son.

John

May 25, 2014

Ethan Gage's quest to find the Brazen Head of yore and his family in this new adventure. Poor Ethan no matter how hard he tries he always seems to be in more trouble. This time Napoleon's agents, a crazed dwarf and theInvisible College all want him and his wife to discover automated man of the past who can tell the future. Great stuff.

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