The Prince of Spies

Lord Grenville asks Alfred Gordon to come out of retirement and return to active service because an old acquaintance of the British secret services has turned up in London. He is meeting scientists, geographers and explorers and has even had himself circumcised. And it is all being financed by the Spanish government. Gordon wonders what he could be after. Domingo Badia leaves London disguised as Ali Bey. He crosses the Strait of Gibraltar and carries out the plan he proposed to Godoy, the Spanish Prime Minister: conquering Morocco for the Kingdom of Spain because Sultan Slimane refuses to sell the country cereal. All of North Africa would come under Spanish control. In the midst of all the changes taking place, with the French Revolution and the rise of Napoleon, the British Crown loses one of its largest colonies and the United States of America comes into existence, looking set to be a great power. Meanwhile war in Europe brings a major defeat for the Spanish Empire by Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar. An incredible adventure begins and the world witnesses the birth of one of history's greatest legends: Prince Ali Bey. Who was Ali Bey? A conspirator, a spy, a scientist, an adventurer, an explorer, a swindler, a parasite or a polygamist? Or maybe all of them at the same time? Or perhaps a mystery that no one has been able to solve? With a humorous take on the story, Albert Salvad solves the Enigma and presents the second part of his trilogy The Shadow of Ali Bey.