The corrupt and despotic rule of Antonio Floresco, longtime dictator of the Carolines, seems finally to be unraveling. The economy is in shambles, the people have been reduced to desperate poverty, a communist insurgency is rapidly making gains in the countryside. Even the Church has turned its back on the regime. Meanwhile, scheming members of the aristocracy, as well as Floresco's most trusted cabinet ministers and sinister forces from abroad, actively plot the downfall of this brilliant and still charismatic, if deeply flawed, leader. His only remaining allies seem to be his Oxford-educated daughter, Conchita, and his wife, the First Lady. History, though, has demonstrated that if there is one creature more venal, ambitious and self-serving than a despotic ruler it is likely to be the despot's consort. And the First Lady of the Carolines is no exception to the rule. In the midst of this explosive mixture, Conchita has fallen in love with the wealthy nephew of one of Floresco's most vocal critics. While Floresco himself has a rare soft spot in his heart reserved for his daughter, the First Lady has no such weaknesses... A gripping and unforgettable tale of lust and intrigue, love and redemption-and particularly recommended reading for the world's remaining dictators.