In the shadow of Napoleon's crumbling empire, a young peasant's innocence becomes his greatest strength-and his deepest trial.
In the quiet village of Haramont, Conscience has earned his nickname through unwavering honesty and gentle spirit. When love blooms between him and the devoted Mariette, their happiness is shattered by the Emperor's desperate call for soldiers. Facing conscription that could destroy his family's livelihood, Conscience makes a shocking sacrifice-one that leads him not away from war, but deeper into its heart.
From the muddy fields of his grandfather's farm to the thunderous battlefields where he catches Napoleon's eye, Conscience's journey tests every belief he holds dear. When a terrible wound threatens to steal his sight forever, it is Mariette's fierce devotion that guides him home. But even love cannot shield them from the harsh realities of a changing world, where old debts come due and survival hangs by the thinnest thread.
Set against the tumultuous final years of the Napoleonic era, this is Alexandre Dumas-beloved author of The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo-at his most intimate. A stirring tale of rural virtue and urban ambition, of simple faith tested by extraordinary circumstances. In Conscience, Dumas has created an unforgettable hero whose very innocence becomes a force that transforms all who encounter it.
A testament to the enduring power of goodness in a world consumed by war and ambition, Conscience reveals that sometimes the greatest courage lies not in wielding a sword, but in refusing to let the world harden your heart.
"The talent, the verve, the humor, the sensitivity-everything is gathered together to create a beautiful melodrama celebrating human goodness."
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