I must wax lyrical a moment. If you are a lover of the sprawling epic, if you appreciate an historical novel steeped in ideas, speculation and fact, if you love a good swashbuckling read or if you just want to lose yourself in another world, then this magnificent trilogy is for you. But you must start at the beginning. They are called The Baroque Cycle and cover European history during the years of enlightenment, covering much of the late 17th and early 18th centuries and they are truly stunning. Begin with Quicksilver, move on to The Confusion and feel bereft when you finish this one.
Comparison: None. Unique but try Iain Pears and Andrew Miller.
Similar this month: None but historically you’ll love Steven Pressfield and for a mystery try Carlos Ruiz Zafon.
| Primary Genre | Historical Fiction |
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Win an Escape Challenge and a copy of The Spy and the Snake by M J Robotham
Closing date: 02/08/2026
The year is 1714. Daniel Waterhouse has returned to England, where he joins forces with his friend Isaac Newton to hunt down a shadowy group attempting to blow up Natural Philosophers with 'Infernal Devices' - time bombs. As Daniel and Newton conspire, an increasingly vicious struggle is waged for England's Crown: who will take control when the ailing queen dies? Tories and Whigs clash as one faction jockeys to replace Queen Anne with 'The Pretender' James Stuart, and the other promotes the Hanoverian dynasty of Princess Caroline.
Meanwhile, a long-simmering dispute between Newton and Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz comes to a head, with potentially cataclysmic consequences-Wildly inventive, brilliantly conceived, The System of the World is the final volume in Neal Stephenson's hugely ambitious and compelling saga. Filled with a remarkable cast of characters in a time of genius, discovery and change, The Baroque Cycle is a magnificent and unique achievement.
The System Of The World features in the following genres: Historical Fiction, Modern and Contemporary Fiction, eBooks of the Month, Fiction, General Fiction, Recommendations
The System Of The World is available in Paperback
The System Of The World was written by Neal Stephenson and published by Arrow Books Ltd
The System Of The World has 887 pages
Yes it is part of The Baroque Cycle series
£11.69
