Neal Stephenson

The Confusion

To Maurine

THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE TO BE THANKED

for their help in the creation of the Baroque Cycle of which this book, The Confusion, is the second volume. Accordingly, please see the acknowledgments in Quicksilver, Volume One of the Baroque Cycle.

THE BAROQUE CYCLE

Author’s Note

THIS VOLUME CONTAINS two novels, Bonanza and Juncto, that take place concurrently during the span 1689-1702. Rather than present one, then the other (which would force the reader to jump back to 1689 in mid-volume), I have interleaved sections of one with sections of the other so that the two stories move forward in synchrony. It is hoped that being thus con-fused shall render them the less confusing to the Reader.

When at the first I took my pen in hand,

Thus for to write, I did not understand

That I at all should make a little book

In such a mode; nay, I had undertook

To make another, which when almost done,

Before I was aware, I this begun.

–JOHN BUNYAN,The Pilgrim’s Progress,

THE AUTHOR’S APOLOGY FOR HIS BOOK

Contents

Thanks

Author’s Note

Epigraph

BOOK 4: BONANZA

Barbary Coast

Book 5: The Juncto

Dundalk, Ireland

The Dunkerque Residence of the Marquis and the Marquise d’Ozoir

BOOK 4: BONANZA

Throne Room of the Pasha, the Kasba, Algiers

Book 5: The Juncto

Chateau Juvisy

Dunkerque Residence of the d’Ozoirs

Cap Gris-Nez, France

Letter from Daniel Waterhouse to Eliza

Letter from Eliza to Daniel

La Dunette

BOOK 4: BONANZA

The Gulf of Cadiz

Off Malta

Book 5: The Juncto

Eliza to Leibniz

Leibniz to Eliza

Schlo? Wolfenbuttel, Lower Saxony

Ireland

A Hay-rick, St.-Malo, France

Chateau d’Arcachon, St.-Malo, France

Eliza to Lothar von Hacklheber

Eliza to King William III of England

Eliza to Monsieur le Chevalier d’Erquy

Cafe Esphahan, Rue de l’Orangerie, Versailles

Daniel Waterhouse to Eliza

Roger Comstock, Marquis of Ravenscar, to Eliza

Leibniz to Eliza

Eliza to Samuel de la Vega

Eliza to the Marquis of Ravenscar

Eliza to Samuel Bernard

Samuel Bernard to Eliza

Cabin of Meteore, off Cherbourg, France

London

Gresham’s College

BOOK 4: BONANZA

Ahmadabad, the Mogul Empire

The Surat-Broach Road, Hindoostan

Book 5: The Juncto

Mrs. Bligh’s Coffee-house, London

Bonaventure Rossignol to Eliza

Eliza to Rossignol

Eliza to Pontchartrain

Rossignol to Eliza

Pretzsch, Saxony

Pontchartrain to Eliza

Eliza to Pontchartrain

The Dower-house of Pretzsch

Jean Bart to Eliza

Leipzig

Eliza to Jean Bart

BOOK 4: BONANZA

Southern Fringes of the Mogul Empire

Malabar

Book 5: The Juncto

The Thames

Dunkirk

An Abandoned Church in France

Winter Quarters of the King’s Own Black Torrent Guards Near Namur

The Track to Pretzsch

A House Overlooking the Meuse Valley

Herrenhausen Palace, Hanover

BOOK 4: BONANZA

Japan

Book 5: The Juncto

Berlin

BOOK 4: BONANZA

The Pacific Ocean

Book 5: The Juncto

Charlottenburg Palace, Berlin

BOOK 4: BONANZA

Mexico City, New Spain

Mexico City

Qwghlm

Book 5: The Juncto

Hotel Arcachon

BOOK 4: BONANZA