The Abyssinian
AuthorJean-Christophe Rufin
Original titleL'Abyssin
TranslatorWillard Wood
CountryFrance
LanguageFrench
GenreHistorical novel
PublisherW W Norton (USA Eng. trans.))
Publication date
1997 (orig) (October 1999 - US Eng trans.)
Media typePrint (Hardback & Paperback)
Pages448 pp (US Eng trans.)
ISBN978-0-393-04716-5 (US Eng trans.)
OCLC40964974
843/.914 21
LC ClassPQ2678.U357 A62913 1999
Followed byThe Siege of Isfahan 

The Abyssinian (French: L'Abyssin) is a 1997 historical adventure novel by Jean-Christophe Rufin.

Plot introduction

The Abyssinian tells the story of a young French physician who is sent as part of a diplomatic mission to Abyssinia in the early eighteenth century. Along the way he must face various perils while trying to win over his true love.

Characters in "The Abyssinian"

  • Jean-Baptiste Poncet: a French apothecarian who has been practicing medicine without a formal license.
  • Maître Juremi: a colleague of Jean-Baptiste who has fled France because of his Protestant religious beliefs
  • Monsieur de Maillet: the French consul in Cairo
  • Monsieur de Macé: an expert linguist who works for Monsieur de Maillet


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