His Excellency - Émile Zola

'His Excellency' is the sixth entry in the 'Les Rougon-Marquart', set in the Imperial court it chronicles the absolute power and corruption of the upper echelons of French society. Our protagonist, Eugene Rougon is the vice-emperor, one of the most powerful men in the empire but his position is never an assurance of safety. We are thrown in to a world of political intrigue, of rivalries and schemes, blackmail, bribery and manipulation in this political thriller. It is a thriller that rises above pure political drama to become an important discourse on the manipulation of legislation for personal power. It is a brilliant read exposing the fragility of the powerful and is perfect for anyone who loved 'House of Cards'.