Maurice Leloir Books

The sweetness of her glance, or rather my evil star already in its ascendant and drawing me to my ruin, did not allow me to hesitate for a moment." So begins the story of Manon Lescaut, a tale of passion and betrayal, of delinquency and misalliance, which moves from early eighteenth-century Paris--with its theatres, assemblies, and gaming-houses-via prison and deportation to a tragic denouement in the treeless wastes of Louisiana. It is one of the great love stories, and also one of the most enigmatic: how reliable a witness is Des Grieux, Manon's lover, whose tale he narrates? Is Manon a thief and a whore, the image of love itself, or a thoroughly modern woman? Prevost is careful to leave the ambiguities unresolved, and to lay bare the disorders of passion. This new translation includes the vignette and eight illustrations that were approved by Prevost and first published in the edition of 1753.

Alexandre Dumas, père (French for "father", akin to Senior in English), born Dumas Davy de la Pailleterie (1802-1870) was a French writer, best known for his numerous historical novels of high adventure which have made him one of the most widely read French authors in the world. Many of his novels, including The Count of Monte Cristo (1845), The Three Musketeers (1844), and The Man in the Iron Mask (1848) were serialized, and he also wrote plays and magazine articles and was a prolific correspondent. Though best known now as a novelist, He earned his first fame as a dramatist. His Henri III et sa Cour (1829) was the first of the great Romantic historical dramas produced on the Paris stage, preceding Victor Hugo's more famous Hernani (1830). He was also a wellknown travel writer, writing such books as From Paris to Cadiz (1847), and Travel Impressions: In Russia (1860). His other works include Twenty Years After (1845), The Two Dianas (1846), Queen Margot (1845), The Black Tulip (1850), The Wolf-Leader (1857), and The Knight of Sainte-Hermine (1869).

Set in 1625, the narrative follows young D'Artagnan, who arrives in Paris eager to join the king's musketeers. His initial confrontations with the seasoned musketeers—Porthos, Aramis, and Athos—quickly turn into camaraderie when they unite against the Cardinal's guards. Their friendship deepens as they embark on a quest to locate a missing woman, facing court intrigues and the treacherous Milady, a spy determined to undermine Queen Anne. This volume captures D'Artagnan's journey filled with adventure, loyalty, and political machinations.

Set in a vibrant historical context, the novel features a clever jester who dares to mock royalty and cleverly outmaneuvers a knight in battle. This character-driven tale showcases Dumas's talent for crafting memorable personalities and engaging plots. The book is a collaboration with Auguste Maquet and is celebrated among Dumas's works, appealing to both fans and collectors. Accompanying the text is a new biography of Dumas, enhancing the reader's understanding of the author behind the iconic stories.

CLASSIC FICTION (PRE C 1945). A historical romance, this novel tells of the adventures of the hot-headed young Gascon, d'Artagnan and his three companions Athos, Porthos and Aramis as they gallantly defend the Queen of France, using their wit and their swords.

Största delen av den andra delen utspelar sig under belägringen av fästningen La Rochelle. Hertigen av Buckingham samlar en armé i England för att hjälpa de belägrade. Kardinal Richelieu skickar milady till England för att förhindra avresan av trupperna med alla medel. På resan ger kardinalen henne ett brev där det står att allt som bäraren av detta brev gör, görs på kardinalens order och för statens väl. Athos får tag på brevet och känner igen milady som sin före detta fru, som är stämplad som brottsling med en lilja. Trots detta reser milady till England och låter mörda Buckingham. La Rochelle får ingen hjälp från engelsmännen och erövras. Milady går så långt i sin hat mot d'Artagnan att hon försöker förgifta honom och slutligen mördar Constance Bonacieux. D'Artagnan och hans vänner fångar henne dock och låter henne avrätta. När Richelieu vill straffa henne för mordet visar Athos honom brevet som han tagit från milady, vilket bekräftar att kardinalen godkänner alla handlingar av bäraren av brevet. Kardinal Richelieu visar sig vara en stor man som kan uppskatta mod även hos sina fiender och befordrar d'Artagnan till löjtnant i musketörerna. Athos, Porthos och Aramis lämnar herr de Trévilles tjänst för sina gods. D'Artagnan blir vän med greven av Rochefort när han upptäcker att han i grunden är en hederlig man.