The Dream Maker - by Jean-Christophe Rufin (Paperback)

About the Book

Based on the life of Jacques C¶ur, this novel presents the story of the king of France's visionary first banker who, with his tours of the Far East, his public criticism of the Crusades, and his efforts to develop trade and an operable financial system, contributed to bringing France out of darkness and toward modernity.

Book Synopsis

"Rufin offers his readers a return . . . to a time when the wildest dreamer could be a wealthy merchant--Jacques Coeur, the treasurer poet" (Les Echos).

After a brilliant career as a trader, Jacques Coeur was summoned to the court of Charles VII and appointed Master of the Mint in 1436. He rose to become the King of France's visionary First Banker who, with his tours of the Far East, his opposition to the crusades, and his efforts to develop trade, brought France out of the darkness toward the Renaissance and modernity. At the height of his success, his ill-considered infatuation with Agnès Sorel, King Charles VII's favorite mistress, precipitated Coeur's fall from grace.In Rufin's delectable prose this true story becomes a gripping tale of adventure, a novel of ideas, and a moving love story.

"The Dream Maker blends with skill and efficiency politics, business, travel and love. All of this written in a classic, elegant prose, of which Jean-Christophe Rufin has long had a command."--Le JDD

"Rufin bestows such immediacy to this artist of finance, such vitality that we hear the sound of Coeur's own voice telling us his life."--Télérama

"Rufin has re-established his eloquence and spirit, that of the great novelist of the people. . . . His new novel is both a chivalric odyssey and a brilliant reflection on power."--Lire

"The vivid portraits of Charles VII and Agnès Sorel give readers an intimate glimpse into court intrigue in 15th-century France."--Washington Independent Review of Books

"A fascinating novel."--Historical Novel Society

Review Quotes

Praise for The Dream Maker

"The Dream Maker brings to vivid life the exmplary career of a little known medieval paragon, Jacques Coeur, banker, visionary and crafter of the glory that was France."
--The Barnes & Noble Review

"The Dream Maker blends with skill and efficiency politics, business, travel and love. All of this written in a classic, elegant prose, of which Jean-Christophe Rufin has long had a command."
--Le JDD

"Rufin bestows such immediacy to this artist of finance, such vitality that we hear the sound of Coeur's own voice telling us his life."
--Télérama

"In this time of the dehumanization of the economy and forced globalization, Jean-Christophe Rufin offers his readers a return to the origins, to when commerce was considered one of man's most beautiful accomplishments, to a time when the wildest dreamer could be a wealthy merchant--Jacques Coeur, the treasurer poet."
--Philippe Chevilley, Les Echos

"Jean-Christophe Rufin has re-established his eloquence and spirit, that of the great novelist of the people, which...enchants his readers. His new novel is both a chivalric odyssey and a brilliant reflection on power."
--Lire

Praise for The Dream Maker
-The Dream Maker brings to vivid life the exmplary career of a little known medieval paragon, Jacques Coeur, banker, visionary and crafter of the glory that was France.-
--The Barnes & Noble Review
-The Dream Maker blends with skill and efficiency politics, business, travel and love. All of this written in a classic, elegant prose, of which Jean-Christophe Rufin has long had a command.-
--Le JDD
-Rufin bestows such immediacy to this artist of finance, such vitality that we hear the sound of Coeur's own voice telling us his life.-
--Telerama
-In this time of the dehumanization of the economy and forced globalization, Jean-Christophe Rufin offers his readers a return to the origins, to when commerce was considered one of man's most beautiful accomplishments, to a time when the wildest dreamer could be a wealthy merchant--Jacques Coeur, the treasurer poet.-
--Philippe Chevilley, Les Echos
-Jean-Christophe Rufin has re-established his eloquence and spirit, that of the great novelist of the people, which...enchants his readers. His new novel is both a chivalric odyssey and a brilliant reflection on power.-
--Lire

Praise for The Dream Maker
"The Dream Maker brings to vivid life the exmplary career of a little known medieval paragon, Jacques Coeur, banker, visionary and crafter of the glory that was France."
--The Barnes & Noble Review
"The Dream Maker blends with skill and efficiency politics, business, travel and love. All of this written in a classic, elegant prose, of which Jean-Christophe Rufin has long had a command."
--Le JDD
"Rufin bestows such immediacy to this artist of finance, such vitality that we hear the sound of Coeur's own voice telling us his life."
--Telerama
"In this time of the dehumanization of the economy and forced globalization, Jean-Christophe Rufin offers his readers a return to the origins, to when commerce was considered one of man's most beautiful accomplishments, to a time when the wildest dreamer could be a wealthy merchant--Jacques Coeur, the treasurer poet."
--Philippe Chevilley, Les Echos
"Jean-Christophe Rufin has re-established his eloquence and spirit, that of the great novelist of the people, which...enchants his readers. His new novel is both a chivalric odyssey and a brilliant reflection on power."
--Lire

"Jean-Christophe Rufin has re-established his eloquence and spirit, that of the great novelist of the people, which...enchants his readers. His new novel is both a chivalric odyssey and a brilliant reflection on power."-- Lire
"The Dream Maker blends with skill and efficiency politics, business, travel and love. All of this written in a classic, elegant prose, of which Jean-Christophe Rufin has long had a command."-- Le JDD

Jean-Christophe Rufin has re-established his eloquence and spirit, that of the great novelist of the people, which enchants his readers. His new novel is both a chivalric odyssey and a brilliant reflection on power. Lire
The Dream Maker blends with skill and efficiency politics, business, travel and love. All of this written in a classic, elegant prose, of which Jean-Christophe Rufin has long had a command. Le JDD"

About the Author

Jean-Christophe Rufin is one of the founders of Doctors Without Borders and a former Ambassador of France in Senegal. He has written numerous bestsellers, including The Abyssinian, for which he won the Goncourt Prize for a debut novel in 1997. He also won the Goncourt Prize in 2001 for Brazil Red.

Alison Anderson's translations for Europa Editions include novels by Sélim Nassib, Amélie Nothomb, and Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt. She is the translator of The Elegance of the Hedgehog (Europa, 2008) and The Life of the Elves (Europa, 2016) by Muriel Barbery.