Collector, adventurer and artist, Vivant Denon was a youthful courtier at Versailles; he lived through the French Revolution, and galloped across Egypt with Bonaparte. A skilled survivor, he knew everyone - Marie Antoinette, Voltaire, Robespierre, Catherine the Great, the artists of the day, Boucher and David. He found world fame without seeking it, risking his life and happiness in an endless quest, a love affair with art. Taking a real historical figure, his extraordinary life, his passions, his friendship with Napoleon, the Venetian contessa who was his great love, Lee Langley has created a vast, rich canvas that captures the dying grandeur of Venice, the battle of the Nile, a dazzling liaison dangereuse, bringing to life the sweep of the period alongside a tender and intimate story. Remaining true to Denon's biography, she has with verve, wit and imaginative invention, constructed a parallel existence for a vulnerable, guarded man in a laughing mask. And there is Baptiste, the valet, living in his shadow, observing the antics of the court and the turbulence of the Terror, and his master, ever closer to Napoleon, cramming the Louvre with the looted treasures of the enemies of France. The private life, too, is open to the observant eye of the valet. He is the confidant, the recipient of secrets. Servant and master, the provider of comforts and the privileged - a relationship as close as marriage. And what of the valet himself? He too has hopes. And heartbreak.
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📄 Exercise Your Right of Withdrawal
Under EU consumer law, you have the right to withdraw from your purchase within 14 days of receiving your order, without giving a reason. To formally exercise this right, use the button below. This is a distinct function separate from our general returns process.
Notice of Withdrawal
Please complete all fields. You will receive a copy of this notice at your email address as confirmation of receipt.
Your right to cancel
If you order online, you have the right to cancel your order within 14 days of receiving your goods, without giving a reason. This cooling-off period runs from the day you (or someone you nominate) receives the last item in your order. To cancel, contact us at shop@chaptersbookstore.com stating your order number and your wish to withdraw from the purchase. Once we've confirmed your cancellation, you have 14 days to send the goods back to us.
Condition of returned items
To be eligible for a refund, your item must be returned unworn, unused and unread, in its original packaging, and in the same condition you received it. You'll also need your receipt or proof of purchase. If your return is based on the item's condition on arrival, please include a photo so we can advise the best resolution.
Faulty or damaged items
Please inspect your order on arrival and contact us immediately if an item is defective, damaged, or not what you ordered. Separately from the 14-day cancellation right above, you're entitled to a repair, replacement or refund on faulty goods for up to two years from purchase, under standard consumer guarantee rights.
This guarantee covers manufacturing faults only, such as printing errors, missing pages, or binding defects present at the time of purchase. It does not cover damage arising from normal use or wear, including creased spines, worn covers, marked pages or general signs of reading. If you're unsure whether an issue qualifies, send us a photo and we'll be happy to advise.
How to return
To start a return, contact us at shop@chaptersbookstore.com. If your return is accepted, we'll send you a return shipping label and instructions on how and where to send your package. Items sent back to us without first requesting a return will not be accepted. If a return is due to an error on our part, we'll cover the postage cost.
Exceptions and non-returnable items
Certain items cannot be returned, including custom products, special orders, sale items and gift cards.
Trade-In Programme
If you're trading in previously owned books rather than returning a purchase, please see our separate Trade-In Programme terms, which operate independently of this policy.
Refunds
Once we've received and inspected your return, we'll let you know if the refund has been approved. If approved, you'll be refunded automatically to your original payment method. Please allow some time for your bank or card provider to process and post the refund.
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