La Sombra del Aguila [Napoleonic Age]

Buenos Aires: Ediciones Dos Amigos, 1991. One of 30 copies, all hors commerce, each numbered and signed by Samuel Cesar Palui, Ernesto Lowenstein and Ruben R. Lapolla, this copy #12, all on velin d'Arches paper. Page size: 15 x 11 inches; 14pp. Bound: loose as issued in original white paper wrappers, housed in publisher's red cloth clamshell box, with cork on front and back panels and spine title in black on spine, in red with author's name in black on front panel, fine. llustrated with four original etchings by Jorge Simes that were printed by Mirta Ripoll. The initials that open each chapter are designed by Amelia Rigon. The text was printed at the Artesanias Graficas Printing Plant by Ruben Lapolla with the supervision of Samuel Cesar Palui in 14 Aster. The literal translation of the Spanish title is "Eagle's Shadow." This is the first book written by the well-known Spanish writer, Artura Perez-Reverte - although it is not the first published. An historical novel, it centers on the Russian campaign in 1812 where Napoleon's troops were so decimated. A battalion formed by Spanish prisoners fighting for the French Army try to desert and join the Russians. The Emperor misunderstands the move and takes it for an act of heroism and sends in support a charge of cavalry with unexpected consequences.