Emperor of Dust

**Longlisted for Best Published Novel in the Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize 2022**

The sands of Egypt carry whispers of rebellion…

The much-anticipated third novel in the William John Hazzard series, following Lords of the Nile.

Egypt, September 1798. After tragedy at the Battle of the Nile, Hazzard is possessed by a dark vengeance: with the marines of 9 Company and their Bedouin allies he scours the Nile Delta for his nemesis, the French spy-catcher Citizen Derrien.

However, among the sacred ibis and ever-shifting sands, Hazzard catches wind of something far more deadly: the stirrings of revolt in Cairo, the outbreak of plague, and the cold hand of Admiralty Intelligence. When riot explodes in the capital, Hazzard fears he is simply too late.

Abandoned by the French Government, Napoleon and his army are now trapped in Egypt. When Bonaparte discovers that Al-Djezzar ‘the Butcher’ of Acre is gathering his forces to attack, he accepts the challenge.

Riding with the Mamluk and the beautiful Shajar al-Durr, Hazzard engages French cavalry in the shadow of Ozymandias in ancient Thebes – and the Admiralty calls upon him once more as Napoleon launches his bloody crusade on Syria and the Holy Land to become the new Emperor in the East.

From flaming battle at sea with the blockade fleet to massacre at the walls of Jaffa and Acre, this is Napoleon’s desperate bid to seize the Orient – and the next explosive chapter of the French occupation of Egypt. Perfect for fans of Bernard Cornwell and Simon Scarrow. Never give up the boat.

Praise for Jonathan Spencer

‘Eloquently crafted and dripping with richly detailed historical and fictional characters, Emperor of Dust is a riveting tale of heartbreak, anguish, courage and love. Spencer is a master storyteller, captivating and entertaining in ways seldom done in adventure literature today’ Quarterdeck on Emperor of Dust

‘This is an outstanding novel, made even more remarkable by its debut status. Better than Sharpe, gripping and intense, Napoleon’s Run deserves to be a runaway success’
Ben Kane, Sunday Times bestselling author of Lionheart on Napoleon’s Run

‘Hornblower meets Mission: Impossible. A thrilling, page-turning debut packed with rousing, rip-roaring action’ J. D. Davies, author of the Matthew Quinton Journals on Napoleon’s Run