The Confusion

Neal Stephenson's *The Confusion* is a historical novel set in the late 17th century, following the journey of a young English merchant named John Wallis. The narrative blends the high-stakes world of international finance and the early development of the stock market with the intellectual ferment of the Royal Society. As Wallis navigates the complex social and economic landscapes of London, Paris, and Amsterdam, he becomes entangled in a web of espionage, cryptography, and the emerging science of calculus. The story explores the intersection of commerce and science, highlighting how the development of financial instruments and mathematical theories shaped the modern world.

Description adapted from Open Library bibliographic data.