The AbyssinianThe Abyssinian is a 1997 historical adventure novel by Jean-Christophe Rufin.Plot introductionThe 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 beliefsMonsieur de Maillet: the French consul in CairoMonsieur de Macé: an expert linguist who works for Monsieur de Maillet