After the excellent first volume, envy was quite legitimate to find in "Saving Isfahan" all the ingredients that have made the success of "The Abyssinian". But let's say it right away, this expectation is somewhat disappointed. The story in a nutshell. Twenty years have passed since "The Abyssinian". We find the apothecary Poncet and his wife Alix in Isfahan. They run a happy, if somewhat monotonous, with their two children, until Françoise, an old friend, solicits the help of Poncet for help Juremi his friend protesting prisoner somewhere in Russia. As in "The Abyssinian" a long journey is the frame "Save Isfahan", during which occur many adventures. But this time, the reasons of this journey are sewn with white thread, the caravan must again his improbable salvation thanks to Poncet healer talent, and the first volume reappear characters with varying degrees of credibility. With a narrative tension less sustained than in "The Abyssinian" (despite the great paradox is that in trying to save Isfahan Afghans, Poncet condemns without knowing a family member) and a less present humor (note, however, the delicious mockery of the Russian spy or wink to Swiss readers about the rivalry between Vaud and Valais), "Saving Isfahan" is not an adventure story as exciting as "The Abyssinian". If it is worth a look for fans of Rufin, he can claim to be essential as is its predecessor.
