Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Brethren | 1977 | Robert Merle | Buy |
| 2 | City of Wisdom and Blood | 1979 | Robert Merle | Buy |
| 3 | Csikóéveink | 1979 | Robert Merle | N/A |
| 4 | Heretic Dawn | 1980 | Robert Merle | Buy |
| 5 | League of Spies | 1982 | Robert Merle | Buy |
| 6 | La violente amour | 1982 | Robert Merle | N/A |
| 7 | La Pique du jour | 1985 | Robert Merle | N/A |
| 8 | Libben a szoknya | 1991 | Robert Merle | N/A |
| 9 | L’Enfant Roi | 1993 | Robert Merle | N/A |
| 10 | Les Roses de la vie | 1996 | Robert Merle | N/A |
| 11 | Liliom és bíbor | 1997 | Robert Merle | N/A |
| 12 | Veszedelem és dicsőség | 2000 | Robert Merle | N/A |
| 13 | Ármány és cselszövés | 2001 | Robert Merle | N/A |
| 14 | Risky Business | 2005 | Robert Merle | N/A |
Fortune de France is Robert Merle’s masterwork, a historical saga that follows the Siorac family through the turbulent religious and political conflicts of 16th and 17th century France. The series begins during the Wars of Religion, when France was tearing itself apart over Protestantism and Catholicism, and continues through the reigns of multiple kings.
The first volume, The Brethren (1977), introduces the Siorac brothers in their Périgord stronghold. Merle writes in a period-flavored French that captures the speech patterns and worldview of the era, which makes the books both immersive and challenging. The saga grew to 13 volumes over 26 years, with the final installment published in 2003, a year before Merle’s death.
Only the first three books are available in English translation. For French readers, the complete series is considered one of the finest historical fiction achievements of the 20th century. Merle’s attention to period detail is meticulous, and he brings the same psychological sharpness to his historical characters that he brought to the contemporary figures in his standalone novels.