A review by moiram
The Eight by Katherine Neville

3.0

The book jumps between the 1790s and the 1970s as it follows a quest for a semi-mythical chess set said to contain a great secret. In the parts taking place in the 1790's, the author has managed to bring in practically everyone of note during this time period as characters - Talleyrand, Robespierre, Marat, Charlotte Corday, Napoleon, the painter Jacques-Louis David, Voltaire, Rousseau, Sir Isaac Newton, Catherine the Great, Bach, Wordsworth, Blake, Boswell, even Benedict Arnold. In the modern section there are not so many actual historical figures, although Colonel Gaddafi and King Faisal of Saudi Arabia make cameo appearances. A very engrossing story, but it did go on just a bit too long for me to really enjoy.