title: The Abyssinian
text: # The Abyssinian
  
  The Abyssinian (French: L'Abyssin) is a 1997 historical adventure novel by Jean-Christophe Rufin.
  
  ## Plot introduction
  
  The Abyssinian tells the story of a young French physician who is sent as part of a diplomatic mission to Abyssinia in the early eighteenth century. Along the way he must face various perils while trying to win over his true love.
  
  ## Characters in "The Abyssinian"
  
  * Jean-Baptiste Poncet: a French apothecarian who has been practicing medicine without a formal license.
  * Maître Juremi: a colleague of Jean-Baptiste who has fled France because of his Protestant religious beliefs
  * Monsieur de Maillet: the French consul in Cairo
  * Monsieur de Macé: an expert linguist who works for Monsieur de Maillet
  