The Magician's Wife

A novel on the 19th century French colonization of Algeria. In a bid to forestall a revolt, Napoleon III dispatches France's top magician, hoping an exhibition of his powers will impress rebellious sheiks with the superiority of European civilization. But the magician's wife--events are seen through her eyes--finds Arab civilization superior. By the author of The Statement. A novel set at the beginning of French rule in Algeria documents the lives of illusionist Henri Lambert and his wife, Emmeline, who are drawn into a plot to further the French imperialist drive into North Africa and subdue the rebellious Arabs