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A young artist meets Stephen Crane as America's hunger for empire draws them both into warOliver Fischer, a self-styled bohemian, boardwalk caricaturist, and student at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, enrages his banker father and earns the contempt of Philadelphia's foremost realist painter Thomas Eakins when he attempts to stage Manet's scandalous painting The Luncheon on the Grass. Soon after, he is ensnarled, along with Mark Twain and Andrew Carnegie, in a clash between the Anti-Imperialist League and their expansionist foes. Sent to Key West to sketch the 1898 American invasion of Cuba, in company with war correspondent Stephen Crane, he realizes––in the flash of a naval bombardment––that our lives are suspended by a thread between radiance and annihilation.The Caricaturist, the penultimate, stand-alone book in The American Novels series, is a tragicomic portrait of America struggling to honor its most-cherished ideals at the dawn of the twentieth century.

This radiant and thrilling debut follows a passionate love affair between two noblewomen who wish to free themselves from their repressive society, whatever the cost.“Propel[s] us into the epicentre of a 17th century Paris where breaking out of the prison of arranged marriage is only one of the many challenges confronting women.” —Lisa Appignanesi, author of Everyday MadnessIn 17th century Paris, everyone has something to hide. The noblemen and women and writers consort with fortune tellers in the confines of their homes, servants practice witchcraft and black magic, and the titled poison family members to obtain inheritance. But for the Baroness Marie Catherine, the only thing she wishes to hide is how unhappy she is in her marriage, and the pleasures she seeks outside of it.When her husband is present, the Baroness spends her days tending to her children and telling them elaborate fairy tales, but when he's gone, Marie Catherine indulges in a more liberated existence, one of forward-thinking discussions with female scholars in the salons of grand houses, and at the center of her freedom: Victoire Rose de Bourbon, Mademoiselle de Conti, the androgynous, self-assured countess who steals Marie Catherine's heart and becomes her lover.Victoire possesses everything Marie Catherine does not—confidence in her love, and a brazen fearlessness in all that she's willing to do for it. But when a shocking and unexpected murder occurs, Marie Catherine must escape. And what she discovers is the dark underbelly of a city full of people who have secrets they would kill to keep.The Disenchantment is a stunning debut that conjures an unexpected world of passion, crime, intrigue, and black magic.

FranÇoise-AthÉnaÏs de Rochechouart de Mortemart had to have Louis, King of France, but his other mistresses stood in the way. Then she meets the very helpful sorceress and AthÉnaÏs gets her wish. But soon Louis hears tales of witchcraft and poison, a conspiracy spreading through his court—like the beasts in the Versailles menagerie, courtesans are clawing their way to his favor, and his bed. He orders Lieutenant General of Police Gabriel-Nicolas de la Reynie to investigate. Mysterious deaths mount while La Reynie presses on, hauling in witches, charlatans, and the nobility alike. Grimy fingers point to AthÉnaÏs, the King's mistress, with whispers of a black mass celebrated over her naked body. Then La Reynie discovers a plot to kill her.

Alexandre Dumas'venerated classic tells a story that weaves together passion, romance, intrigue, and action into a single masterfully-told tale. The story follows d'Artagnan as he journeys into Paris, intent on joining the Musketeers of the Guard. Hotheaded and reckless, however, he offends three others - Athos, Porthos and Aramis - all of whom challenge him to a duel that very same afternoon. When set upon by the king's men for duelling illegally, the four emerge triumphant, and d'Artagnan is recruited for the exceptional skill he displayed. Their actions entangle them in a plot that runs far deeper than any of them could have thought, however, and it is up to them to thwart it and prevent war from erupting...

The final installment of the D'Artagnan Romances chronicles heroic adventures in seventeenth-century France, including the tale of “The Man in the Iron Mask.”With 1844's The Three Musketeers, Alexandre Dumas introduced the world to the immortal hero D'Artagnan and the inseparable trio of king's Musketeers: Athos, Aramis, and Porthos. Their many escapades—full of swordfights, derring-do, and chivalry—came to define the swashbuckler genre of adventure fiction. Following the second D'Artagnan novel, Twenty Years After, this third and final volume is itself separated into three parts: “The Vicomte of Bragelonne,” “Louise de la Vallière,” and “The Man in the Iron Mask.” Together they form an epic saga of risking all in the name of justice, loyalty, and friendship.

”Dumas is a master of ripping yarns full of fearless heroes, poisonous ladies and swashbuckling adventurers.”-The Guardian “I do not say there is no character as well-drawn in Shakespeare (as D'Artagnan). I do say that there is none that I love so wholly.”-Robert Louis Stevenson “a masterpiece which remains as fresh and living as if it were written yesterday.”-J. Lucas-Dubreton With it's extraordinary and intoxicating narrative Alexandre Dumas's The Three Musketeers(1844) has captivated the imaginations of readers for hundreds of years. The deliriously robust adventure follows the journey of a swaggering young Gascon who yearns to become an elite Musketeer of the guard of the Ancien Régime of 17th century France. This timeless novel of intrigue and romance, initially published in French as Les Trois Mousquetaires in 1844, begins as the young hero D'Artagnan journeys from his home in the province of Gascony to Paris to fulfill his dream of seeking a fortune. A skillful swordman, noble and intelligent, he is given a letter of introduction to the head of the King's Musketeers, the distinguished Monsieur de Treville. During his first stop at an inn, D'Artagnan is involved in a fight, and his letter is stolen. Undeterred by his setback, he meets Treville at his headquarters, and is given a post as a King's Guard to prove his worthiness of becoming a Musketeer. After a contentious run-in with three of the most notable of the King's Musketeers, he agrees to a duel. The bout with the distinguished Athos, the reticent Aramis, and the brash Portos result in a remarkable friendship between the four men. The masterful story of the intrigues and the adventure of D'Artagnan and the three Musketeers, is a timeless classic and has been the inspiration of numerous film, television, and stage adaptations. /p> With an eye-catching new cover, and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of The Three Musketeers is both modern and readable. Since our inception in 2020, Mint Editions has kept sustainability and innovation at the forefront of our mission. Each and every Mint Edition title gets a fresh, professionally typeset manuscript and a dazzling new cover, all while maintaining the integrity of the original book. With thousands of titles in our collection, we aim to spotlight diverse public domain works to help them find modern audiences. Mint Editions celebrates a breadth of literary works, curated from both canonical and overlooked classics from writers around the globe.

In the darkest depths of the Bastille, a man has been robbed of his freedom and identity, denied any knowledge of the nature of his crimes. Only a handful of people, including the corrupt King Louis XIV and his mother, Queen Anne, know who the prisoner is and why he has been locked away. But the secret of the man in the iron mask is about to be revealed. Long after d'Artagnan first journeyed to Paris to join the elite guardsmen known as the Musketeers, he remains in the service of the crown. His fellow swordsmen Athos, Aramis, and Porthos have long since moved on, but their paths will cross once again when the king is kidnapped and the mysterious prisoner disappears. To save France, d'Artagnan must uncover the connection between the two events and decide where his true loyalties lie—with the monarchy, or his old friends?

'Brighton Kent, an Australian archaeologist, discovers an ancient historical manuscript in a tomb in Syria, bordering Israel, which reveals the writings of Christ. But this manuscript has a strange power: Christ appears personally to Brighton. Following this ecstasy experience, Brighton transmigrates to France of 1789 on the eve of the birth of revolutionary hostilities. Apparently supported by the divine will but barely understanding what is expected of him, Brighton falls in love with Queen Marie-Antoinette, all the while distinguishing his fame through various'miracles'…'A fascinating intrigue that relives a famous episode of the history of France by leaning on the supernatural. The great names of history are fleshed out and become thereby even more human and more charming. The author takes an original approach to show us our history through the eyes of a foreigner, and perhaps this is the best way of understanding it. A history lesson led by the beating drum…'Paris Journal Review.

The courageous musketeers—Athos, D'Artagnan, Aramis, and Porthos—return to sword fighting in the final installment of the D'Artagnan Romances. When Aramis visits the Bastille, an infamous French prison, he meets a mysterious man who wears an iron mask and claims to be the King of France's secret twin brother. While France suffers under King Louis XIV's rule, Aramis initiates an elaborate plan to free the prisoner and overthrow the corrupt king with the masked man's help. Will the musketeers survive their most daring adventure yet, filled with nefarious politics, deceitful royals, and clashing loyalties? This is an unabridged English translation of French author Alexandre Dumas's swashbuckling historical novel, which was first published in serial form between 1847 and 1850.

ESTP are freedom lovers, like to be among people and are always ready to get down to business. In this book you will find two classic novels specially selected to please the tastes of the ESTP. These are works by renowned authors that will surely bring reflections, insights and fun to people with this kind of personality. For ESTP, we chose: - The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas. - Lady Chatterley's Lover by D. H. Lawrence.For more books that will suit you, be sure to check out our collection 7 Short Stories your Myers-Briggs Type Will Love!

Here you will find the complete D'Artagnan novels in the chronological order of their original publication. The D'Artagnan Romances are a set of three 19th-century novels by Alexandre Dumas, telling the story of the 17th-century musketeer D'Artagnan. In the English translations, the 269 chapters of the last novel (The Vicomte of Bragelonne: Ten Years Later) has been usually split into three, four, or five individual books. Our edition is faithful to the original text by not splitting the novel. - The Three Musketeers - Twenty Years After - The Vicomte of Bragelonne: Ten Years Later (which includes The Vicomte of Bragelonne, Louise de la Vallière and The Man in the Iron Mask)

The Man in the Iron Mask by Alexander Dumas is a name given to a prisoner arrested as Eustache Dauger in 1669 or 1670, and held in a number of jails, including the Bastille and the Fortress of Pignerol (or today Pinerolo). He was held in the custody of the same jailer, Benigne Dauvergne de Saint-Mars, for a period of 34 years. He died on 19 November 1703 under the name of Marchioly, during the region of Louis XIV of France, 1643-1715.

This file includes: Marguerite de Valois, The Black Tulip, The Companions of Jehu, The Conspirators, The Count of Monte Cristo, The Forty-Five Guardsmen, The Prussian Terror, Celebrated Crimes (all eight volumes) and all six volumes of the Three Musketeers Series (The Three Musketeers, Twenty Years After, The Vicomte de Bragelone, Ten Years Later, Louise de la Valliere, and The Man in the Iron Mask. According to Wikipedia:'Alexandre Dumas, born Dumas Davy de la Pailleterie (24 July 1802 – 5 December 1870) was a French writer, best known for his 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, The Three Musketeers, Twenty Years After, and The Vicomte de Bragelonne were originally serialized. He also wrote plays and magazine articles and was a prolific correspondent.'

NAMED A MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK OF 2018 BY Buzzfeed • Esquire • Bustle • The Millions • The Wall Street Journal • Entertainment Weekly • Nylon • Elle • Dazed • The Irish Times'Cassara has written a heartbreaking tale of gay men struggling to survive in a world of clubbing and drugs. It is also an unexpected love story.'Graham Norton, Top Five Reads of 2018'Cassaras's propulsive and profound first novel, finding one's home in the world – particularly in a subculture plagued by fear and intolerance from society – comes with tragedy as well as extraordinary personal freedom.'Esquire A gritty and gorgeous debut inspired by the real House of Xtravaganza made famous by the seminal documentary Paris Is Burning New York City, 1980 Nowhere is the city's glamour and energy better reflected than in the burgeoning Harlem dance scene. Angel Just seventeen years old and burnt by her traumatic past, she wants to create a family for those without. Hector When Angel falls in love with him, the two decide to set up the House of Xtravaganza, the first ever all-Latino house on the dance circuit. The Xtravaganzas They are joined by Venus, Juanito and Daniel, all with their own devastating stories to tell, each determined to survive. Told in a voice that brims with wit, rage, tenderness, and fierce yearning, The House of Impossible Beauties is a gritty and gorgeous debut - a tragic story of love, family, and the dynamism of the human spirit.

The fourth book in the swashbuckling Fortunes of France series, in a brand new look An uneasy peace reigns in France, but behind the scenes Catholics, Protestants and the agents of foreign powers are still locked in secretive, bloody combat. As his country's future hangs in the balance, Pierre de Siorac's apparent employment as a doctor masks a more deadly occupation – as a spy working for King Henry IV and his ally Elizabeth I of England, using fair means and foul to protect the peace of two realms. As the plots against his king thicken and the Spanish Armada prepares to sail, Pierre finds himself struggling to save not only his country, but the lives of his entire family. With his back to the wall, he will need a keen wit and a steady sword arm to fight his way to safety. PRAISE FOR FORTUNES OF FRANCE'Both wise and audacious, constantly nudging up against the extraordinary'– New York Times Book Review'Swashbuckling historical fiction... the comparions with Dumas seem both natural and deserved'– Guardian Robert Merle (1908–2004) was born in French Algeria, before moving to mainland France in 1918. Originally an English teacher, Merle served as an interpreter with British Expeditionary Force during the Second World War, and was captured by the German army at Dunkirk, the experience of which served as the basis for his Goncourt-prize-winning Weekend at Zuydcoote. He published the 13 volumes of his hugely popular Fortunes of France series over four decades, from 1977 to 2003, the final volume appearing just a year before his death in 2004.

The novel's fast-moving story is set in the royal court of Louis XIII, where the swaggering King's musketeers square off against their rivals: the crimson-clad guards of the dreaded Cardinal Richelieu. The Red Duke rules France with an iron hand in the name of King Louis—and of Queen Anne, who dares a secret love affair with France's enemy, England's Duke of Buckingham. Into this royal intrigue leaps the brash d'Artagnan, a young swordsman from the provinces determined to find fame and fortune in Paris. Bold and clever, in no time the youth finds himself up to his Gascon neck in adventure, while earning the enduring friendship of the greatest comrades in literature, the Three Musketeers: noble Athos, sly Aramis, and the giant, good-hearted Porthos. Now from Lawrence Ellsworth, acclaimed translator of The Red Sphinx, comes a new rendition of The Three Musketeers for a new century, one that captures anew the excitement, humor, and spirit of Alexandre Dumas's greatest novel of historical adventure. Whether you're meeting the musketeers for the first time or discovering them all over again, it's all for one, one for all, in this timeless tale of honor and glory, the flash of dark eyes, and the clash of bright steel.

Jean, the bastard cousin of the future king of France, fought his way across the battlefields of 15th Century Europe. His was the world that burned Joan of Arc at the stake, where morals were forgotten and rape one of the spoils of victory. Handsome, fearless Jean le Bâtard held a lovely, scornful temptress in his heart and a bloody sword in his hand to wreak vengeance on the murderers of his father and the hated English conquerors.

Andrew Lang was a Scottish writer best known for collecting folklore, legends, and fairy tales and making a compendium of them to celebrate ethnic heritage.

In seventeenth-century France, a daring young man defends the queen's honor and tests his skills against the best swordsmen of the day D'Artagnan journeys to Paris armed with nothing but his sword, his courage, and a burning desire to prove his mettle as a member of King Louis XIII's elite guardsmen. A swashbuckling corps of gentlemen rogues, the Musketeers live to antagonize Cardinal Richelieu and sweep every woman in France off her feet. Before d'Artagnan can join their ranks, however, he must distinguish himself on the field of battle. On his first day in the capital, d'Artagnan accidentally offends the honor of three dashing Musketeers—Athos, Porthos, and Aramis—and agrees to duel each one in turn. But before they can match steel, the combatants are interrupted by the cardinal's guards, embroiling d'Artagnan in complex affairs of state, dangerous court intrigues, and a sinister battle against the wily and seductive spy Milady de Winter. A richly detailed historical novel and one of the greatest adventure stories ever told, The Three Musketeers is a masterwork of Western literature. This ebook has been professionally proofread to ensure accuracy and readability on all devices.

A revolutionary plot hinges on the identity of a masked prisoner in the iconic final chapter in the adventures of d'Artagnan and the Three Musketeers. In the darkest depths of the Bastille, a man has been robbed of his freedom and identity, denied any knowledge of the nature of his crimes. Only a handful of people, including the corrupt King Louis XIV and his mother, Queen Anne, know who the prisoner is and why he has been locked away. But the secret of the man in the iron mask is about to be revealed. Long after d'Artagnan first journeyed to Paris to join the elite guardsmen known as the Musketeers, he remains in the service of the crown. His fellow swordsmen Athos, Aramis, and Porthos have long since moved on, but their paths will cross once again when the king is kidnapped and the mysterious prisoner disappears. To save France, d'Artagnan must uncover the connection between the two events and decide where his true loyalties lie—with the monarchy, or his old friends? This ebook has been professionally proofread to ensure accuracy and readability on all devices.

A.M. Williamson is best known for her fiction, many of which were co-written with her husband. A number of Williamson's works center around motoring and were written in the early days of the sport.

This elementary history of Greece is intended for supplementary reading or as a first history text-book for young pupils. It is therefore made up principally of stories about persons; for, while history proper is largely beyond the comprehension of children, they are able at an early age to understand and enjoy anecdotes of people, especially of those in the childhood of civilization. At the same time, these stories will give a clear idea of the most important events that have taken place in the ancient world, and, it is hoped, will arouse a desire to read further. They also aim to enforce the lessons of perseverance, courage, patriotism, and virtue that are taught by the noble lives described.

1 THE THREE PRESENTS OF D'ARTAGNAN THE ELDER 2 THE ANTECHAMBER OF M. DE TREVILLE 3 THE AUDIENCE 4 THE SHOULDER OF ATHOS, THE BALDRIC OF PORTHOS AND THE HANDKERCHIEF OF ARAMIS 5 THE KING'S MUSKETEERS AND THE CARDINAL'S GUARDS 6 HIS MAJESTY KING LOUIS XIII 7 THE INTERIOR• OF THE MUSKETEERS 8 CONCERNING A COURT INTRIGUE 9 D'ARTAGNAN SHOWS HIMSELF 10 A MOUSETRAP IN THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY 11 IN WHICH THE PLOT THICKENS 12 GEORGE VILLIERS, DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM 13 MONSIEUR BONACIEUX 14 THE MAN OF MEUNG 15 MEN OF THE ROBE AND MEN OF THE SWORD 16 IN WHICH M. SEGUIER, KEEPER OF THE SEALS, LOOKS MORE THAN ONCE FOR THE BELL 17 BONACIEUX AT HOME 18 LOVER AND HUSBAND 19 PLAN OF CAMPAIGN 20 THE JOURNEY 21 THE COUNTESS DE WINTER 22 THE BALLET OF LA MERLAISON 23 THE RENDEZVOUS 24 THE PAVILION 25 PORTHOS 26 ARAMIS AND HIS THESIS 27 THE WIFE OF ATHOS 28 THE RETURN 29 HUNTING FOR THE EQUIPMENTS 30 D'ARTAGNAN AND THE ENGLISHMAN 31 ENGLISH AND FRENCH 32 A PROCURATOR'S DINNER 33 SOUBRETTE AND MISTRESS 34 IN WHICH THE EQUIPMENT OF ARAMIS AND PORTHOS IS TREATED OF 35 A GASCON A MATCH FOR CUPID 36 DREAM OF VENGEANCE 37 MILADY'S SECRET 38 HOW, WITHOUT INCOMMDING HIMSELF, ATHOS PROCURES HIS EQUIPMENT 39 A VISION 40 A TERRIBLE VISION 41 THE SEIGE OF LA ROCHELLE 42 THE ANJOU WINE 43 THE SIGN OF THE RED DOVECOT 44 THE UTILITY OF STOVEPIPES 45 A CONJUGAL SCENE 46 THE BASTION SAINT-GERVAIS 47 THE COUNCIL OF THE MUSKETEERS 48 A FAMILY AFFAIR 49 FATALITY 50 CHAT BETWEEN BROTHER AND SISTER 51 OFFICER 52 CAPTIVITY: THE FIRST DAY 53 CAPTIVITY: THE SECOND DAY 54 CAPTIVITY: THE THIRD DAY 55 CAPTIVITY: THE FOURTH DAY 56 CAPTIVITY: THE FIFTH DAY 57 MEANS FOR CLASSICAL TRAGEDY 58 ESCAPE 59 WHAT TOOK PLACE AT PORTSMOUTH AUGUST 23, 1628 60 IN FRANCE 61 THE CARMELITE CONVENT AT BETHUNE 62 TWO VARIETIES OF DEMONS 63 THE DROP OF WATER 64 THE MAN IN THE RED CLOAK 65 TRIAL 66 EXECUTION

One of the most famous works of French literature, The Three Musketeers is a classic swashbuckler novel of adventure, sword fights, humour, and romance. Delve into a fast-paced world of danger and espionage as d'Artagnan travels to Paris in the hopes of joining the Musketeers of the Guard. Set in France in the 1620s, this gripping story tells the tale of a brave swordsman and his friendship with the most dauntless guards in Paris: the three musketeers. Follow the four friends'adventures as they face the ruthless Cardinal Richelieu and his gorgeous spy, Milady. As brave d'Artagnan finds himself surrounded by conspiracy and peril, he realises he's falling in love, but this blossoming romance is doomed from the start… First published in 1844, Alexandre Dumas's thrilling novel is a timeless must-read for fans of historical adventure fiction.

“All for one, one for all!”--Alexandre Dumas, The Three MusketeersThe Three Musketeers, by French writer Alexandre Dumas, was first released in serial form in 1844, a year before Dumas'publication of The Count of Monte Cristo. The story was an instant success, largely due to Dumas'transformation of the historical fiction genre. In The Three Musketeers, contrary to popular practice at the time, history acted as a backdrop for the story rather than the primary element, making it a fun and accessible read. The story follows young d'Artagnan and his friends Athos, Porthos, and Aramis as they defend honor amidst the power struggles of 17th century France. Still popular with readers today, this classic is now available in a chic and affordable edition as part of the Word Cloud Classics series from Canterbury Classics.

This vintage book contains a classic historical romance by the author of'The Three Musketeers'. This gripping and action-packed romance will greatly appeal to anyone who has read and enjoyed Alexandre Dumas's other works, and is one not to be missed by the discerning collector of antiquarian literature. The chapters of this book include:'The Latin of M. De Guise','Queen Margot's Bed-Chamber','The Poet King','The Evening of the 24th August','The Massacres','The Assassins','The Hawthorn','Confidences','How it Comes About That Certain Keys Open Doors for Which they Were Not Intended', etcetera. Alexandre Dumas (1802 - 1870) was a famous French writer whose books have been translated into almost 100 languages, and he remains one of the most widely read French authors of all time. Other famous works by this author include:'The Count of Monte Cristo'and'Twenty Years After'. We are republishing this vintage work now in an affordable, modern edition, complete with a specially commissioned new biography of the author.

'Can fortune fail to shine on a face like that?'Hearing rumors of his daughter Diane's extraordinary beauty, the charming but profligate comte de Fautrière removes the thirteen-year-old from her convent school in the provinces and takes her to Paris. Blossoming in the fashion and excitement of life at court, Diane captures the roving eye of the King himself and seems balanced on the brink of a fabulous career that could save her family's fortunes. But it takes more than a beautiful face to negotiate the intrigues of court. Caught between the desire to please her father and friends and her own awakening passions, she plays at love with a handsome Swiss baron and is drawn into a dangerous infatuation with a nobleman whose prospects are no surer than her own. Diane struggles to become something other than a pawn in other people's games but not playing by the rules will have consequences more serious than she can imagine.Drawing on the unpublished memoir of an eighteenth-century countess whose spectacular beauty seemed to promise a charmed life, the haunting story of Diane de Fautrière unfolds among a fabulous cast of characters in the licentious, debauched world of the court of Louis XV.

The Three Musketeers (Les Trois Mousquetaires) is a novel by Alexandre Dumas, père. It recounts the adventures of a young man named d'Artagnan after he leaves home to become a musketeer. D'Artagnan is not one of the musketeers of the title; those are his friends Athos, Porthos, and Aramis—inseparable friends who live by the motto,'One for all, and all for one'. The story of d'Artagnan is continued in Twenty Years After and The Vicomte de Bragelonne. Those three novels by Dumas are together known as the D'Artagnan Romances. The Three Musketeers was first published in serial form in the magazine Le Siècle between March and July 1844.

Young, poor D'Artagnan is off to seek his fortune in Paris. Even before he reaches the city, he gets himself into mischief and, shortly after arriving, he offends three of the King's musketeers. But those adversaries soon turn into close allies, and together they confront increasingly complicated situations. The four friends take on kidnappers, secret lovers, blackmail, and murder plots as they save the innocent and punish the wrongdoers (but not without some fun in between). French author Alexandre Dumas penned this romantic, swashbuckling historical novel in 1844; this is an unabridged edition of the English translation.

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Alice Network and The Briar Club comes the continuing saga of the ruthless Borgia family that holds all of Rome in its grasp, and the three outsiders thrust into their twisted web of blood and deceit… As the cherished concubine of the Borgia Pope Alexander VI, Giulia Farnese has Rome at her feet. But after narrowly escaping a sinister captor, she realizes that the danger she faces is far from over—and now, it threatens from within. The Holy City of Rome is still under Alexander's thrall, but enemies of the Borgias are starting to circle. In need of trusted allies, Giulia turns to her sharp-tongued bodyguard, Leonello, and her fiery cook and confidante, Carmelina. Caught in the deadly world of the Renaissance's most notorious family, Giulia, Leonello, and Carmelina must decide if they will flee the dangerous dream of power. But as the shadows of murder and corruption rise through the Vatican, they must learn who to trust when every face wears a mask…

17th century France: Young D'Artagnan leaves his home and travels to Paris with dreams of joining The Musketeers of Guard— the glamourous and gallant group of men who guard Louis XIII, the King of France. There he meets Athos, Porthos, and Aramis, the three best musketeers and inseparable friends who believe with all their heart in the words ‘ all for one, one for all.'D'Artagnan rents an apartment above the shop of one Monsieur Bonacieux, hoping to settle into Parisian life and become a proper musketeer quickly. What the young and gallant D'Artagnan does not realise is that he has, inadvertently, landed himself in the very centre of one of the foulest conspiracies in monarchist France. There are love affairs and intrigues, ambushes and wild rides, duels and murders. And as the famous American author and editor Clifton Fadiman says, ‘ it is all impossible and it is all magnificient.'

This historical novel is the third and final book in American poet and fiction writer Janet Lewis's Cases of Circumstantial Evidence series, based on legal case studies compiled in the nineteenth century. In The Ghost of Monsieur Scarron, Lewis returns to her beloved France, the setting of The Wife of Martin Guerre, her best-known novel and the first in the series. As Swallow Press executive editor Kevin Haworth relates in a new introduction, Monsieur Scarron shifts the reader into the center of Paris in 1694, during the turbulent reign of the Sun King, Louis XIV. The junction of this time and place gives Monsieur Scarron an intriguing political element not apparent in either The Wife of Martin Guerre or The Trial of Sören Qvist.The Ghost of Monsieur Scarron begins in a small bookbinder's shop on a modest Paris street, but inexorably expands to encompass a tumultuous affair, growing social unrest, and the conflicts between a legal system based on oppressive order and a society about to undergo harsh changes. With its domestic drama set against a larger political and historical backdrop, Monsieur Scarron is considered by some critics and readers to be the most intricately layered and fully realized book of Lewis's long career. Originally published in 1959, Monsieur Scarron has remained in print almost continuously ever since.

NOW A SIX-PART MINISERIES ON MASTERPIECE ON PBSThe only completely unabridged paperback edition of Victor Hugo's masterpiece—a sweeping tale of love, loss, valor, and passion.Introducing one of the most famous characters in literature, Jean Valjean—the noble peasant imprisoned for stealing a loaf of bread—Les Misérables ranks among the greatest novels of all time. In it, Victor Hugo takes readers deep into the Parisian underworld, immerses them in a battle between good and evil, and carries them to the barricades during the uprising of 1832 with a breathtaking realism that is unsurpassed in modern prose. Within his dramatic story are themes that capture the intellect and the emotions: crime and punishment, the relentless persecution of Valjean by Inspector Javert, the desperation of the prostitute Fantine, the amorality of the rogue Thénardier, and the universal desire to escape the prisons of our own minds. Les Misérables gave Victor Hugo a canvas upon which he portrayed his criticism of the French political and judicial systems, but the portrait that resulted is larger than life, epic in scope—an extravagant spectacle that dazzles the senses even as it touches the heart. Translated by Lee Fahnestock and Norman Macafee, based on the classic nineteenth-century Charles E. Wilbour translation Inlcudes an Introduction by Lee Fahnestock and an Afterword by Chris Bohjalian

The year is 1905 and King Edward VII has invited himself and his mistress to a shooting weekend with the Dilbernes. Now Isobel, the Countess, must turn a run-down mansion into a palace fit for a king. Just as well the family fortunes have been restored, but money can't solve everything... not even a kidnapping.The servants refuse to condone the King's morals; Isobel's daughter, Lady Rosina – now widowed and wealthy – insists on publishing a scandalous book, and the mis-spent pasts of Viscount Arthur and his Irish-American wife Minnie rear up to blacken the family name. When fate deals a hand in the middle of the shooting party, Isobel must consider not only her leading position in Society, but her entire future.Fay Weldon brings an aristocratic Edwardian household to fabulous, vibrant life in this gorgeously witty tale of manners and morals, commoners and countesses, from one of Britain's best loved authors.

The adventures of a young man named d'Artagnan after he leaves home to become a guard of the musketeers. D'Artagnan is not one of the musketeers of the title; those are his friends Athos, Porthos, and Aramis.

Fay Weldon brings an aristocratic Edwardian household to fabulous, exuberant life in her Love and Inheritance Trilogy, set over five years at the turn of the nineteenth century.The Dilberne family lurch from diamond-studded tea gowns to bankruptcy and back again, their fortunes dependent on steam-powered automobiles, Spiritualist gatherings and Christmases at Sandringham. But as the century turns, the rigid rules of society are beginning to soften. Can Lady Isobel survive without three ladies'maids? Will her obstinate daughter Rosina give up Votes for Women once she's married off? And has the vulgar Minnie truly won Viscount Arthur's heart?

This is the first digital version of Cases of Circumstantial Evidence, a collection of three historical novels by noted American writer Janet Lewis. For the first time, these works have been brought together in a single edition, each with a new introduction by Kevin Haworth:The Wife of Martin GuerreBased on a notorious trial in sixteenth-century France, The Wife of Martin Guerre follows Bertrande de Rois and her lost-and-returned husband through a tale of impersonation, conspiracy, and small-town intrigue. Their fascinating story has also inspired a bestselling historical study and two films, including The Return of Martin Guerre.The Trial of Sören QvistAlthough set in seventeenth-century Denmark, The Trial of Sören Qvist has a contemporary feel and has been praised for its intriguing plot and for Lewis's powerful writing. In this second novel in the Cases of Circumstantial Evidence, Lewis recounts the story of a murder, an investigation, and a pious town pastor who confesses to the crime, driven perhaps more by a recognition of his own moral flaws than by guilt for the acts of which he stood accused.The Ghost of Monsieur ScarronThe court of Louis XIV and a modest Paris street provide the incongruous settings for this tale of a humble bookbinder, his wife, and the young craftsman who seduces her and blackmails her husband into covering up a terrible crime. This third and last case of circumstantial evidence bristles with character, the smell of blood, and considerable suspense against a backdrop of national political unrest in the cruel and dingy Paris of the seventeenth century.

With its rousing cry of'One for all, and all for one,'Alexandre Dumas's thrilling adventure novel has captivated generations of readers since its initial publication in 1844. Action, intrigue, and romance abound in this swashbuckling epic, which traces a country lad's path to the French court of the early 1600s and the glorious fraternity of the king's men, the Musketeers.A son of impoverished nobility, D'Artagnan arrives in Paris to find the Musketeers disbanded by the cunning Cardinal Richelieu, who hopes to seize power from the weak-willed Louis XIII. The daring and ambitious youth proves his mettle in the company of the famous Musketeers — Porthos, Athos, and Aramis — and joins them in a heroic struggle to defend the king and his lovely queen, Anne of Austria.Dumas transformed the concept of the historical novel by writing in a modern, conversational style. His accessible, fast-paced narratives combine real and fictional characters to recapture the events, manners, and mood of seventeenth-century France. Emerging in the chaotic aftermath of the Revolution, Dumas's novels provided his contemporaries with a welcome sense of identity and national pride. His most popular work, The Three Musketeers, continues to charm modern readers with its timeless tales of romantic valor.

Alexandre Dumas'famous musketeer hero d'Artagnan first appeared in The Three Musketeers. This book is a later adventure in the Three Musketeers saga, which links into the real-life tale of the mysterious'Man in the Iron Mask'who was held in Bastille for reasons unknown.

In her historic mysteries The Rhetoric of Death and The Eloquence of Blood, Judith Rock created an atmosphere that'takes you back to fascinating and dangerous seventeenth-century Paris so well that I suspect her of being a time-traveler who's been there'(Ariana Franklin, national bestselling author of A Murderous Procession). Now, the latest novel to feature Charles du Luc finds the ex-soldier-turned-Jesuit caught up in royal intrigue...Versailles, 1687 Madame de Maintenon is King Louis XIV's second wife. The daughter of a minor noble of ill-repute, she has not forgiven the king's Jesuit confessor for encouraging him to withhold the title of Queen from her. To placate her, the prestigious Louis le Grand Jesuit school has sent a delegation—including her distant cousin Pere Jouvancy and rhetoric teacher Charles du Luc—to Versailles with a gift of reliquary. But while the Sun King's palace might be spectacular, this visit is anything but pleasant. Their first night, a courtier dies, and court whispers claim poison. Then the Jesuit delegation falls direly ill, and a palace gardener is found murdered. Fear grips a court already on edge. In the midst of all this, Charles learns that one of his students is in love with the king's rebellious (and betrothed) daughter, and may ruin not only himself, but all of them …

The third volume of the'd'Artagnan Romances', of which'The Three Musketeers'and'Twenty Years After'constitute the first and second volumes, was first serialized between October 1847 to January 1850. It has subsequently been published in three, four, and five-volume editions. Our edition follows the four-volume edition. The books in this edition in their chronological order are as follows: 1.'The Vicomte de Bragelonne'(chapters 1-75), 2.'Ten Years Later'(chapters 76-140), 3.'Louise de la Vallière'(chapters 141-208), and 4.'The Man in the Iron Mask'(chapters 209-269).'The Man in the Iron Mask'is a tale that brings to life the mystery of one of the Bastille's most famous prisoners. Though they are older and the original three have retired, D'Artagnan has stayed in the corrupt King Louis XIV's service. Though no longer on active duty, the Musketeers are certainly far from idle, for they involve themselves in a plot that will set a humble, masked prisoner who does not know his identity or his crime against the king of a powerful country in a story full of conflicting loyalties. In this final adventure of the immortalized Musketeers, Dumas lavished all of his considerable literary skill in a work of political intrigue and high adventure.

The hilarious, bawdy and touching story of Madame de Montespan's husband who could not give her up.'The writing is beautiful, witty, grisly and moving, and reeks of authenticity'Sunday Telegraph The Marquis de Montespan and his new wife, Athenais, are a true love-match - a rarity amongst the nobility of seventeenth-century France. But love is not enough to maintain their hedonistic lifestyle. When Madame de Montespan is offered the chance to become lady-in-waiting to the Queen at Versailles, she seizes this opportunity to turn their fortunes round. Too late, Montespan discovers that his ravishing wife has caught the eye of King Louis XIV. As everyone congratulates him on his new status of cuckold by royal appointment, the Marquis is broken-hearted. He vows to wreak revenge on the monarch and win back his adored Marquise...

TRUTH—BETRAYAL— INTRIGUE—REVOLUTION— AND LOVE Paris, 1747. Betrayed by God and humanity, Sophie moves to the seething capital of the kingdom. To survive, she works at Café Procope, the meeting place for freethinkers and revolutionaries. Against her will she falls deeply in love with one of the regular customers: Denis Diderot, the famed philosopher and a married man. He and his colleagues are planning the most dangerous book in the world since the appearance of the Bible: an encyclopedia. Even more explosive are the covert references in the Encyclopedia that threaten to undermine both the monarchy and the church. But Sophie soon realizes that the stakes are even higher for her personally. At risk are her right to freedom, love, and happiness.

The third and final volume of the'd'Artagnon Romances', of which'The Three Musketeers'and'Twenty Years After'constitute the first and second volumes, The Vicomte de Bragelonne was first serialized between October 1847 to January 1850. It has subsequently been published in three, four, and five-volume editions. Our edition contains four volumes:'The Vicomte de Bragelonne','Ten Years Later','Louise de la Vallière', and'The Man in the Iron Mask'. This second volume contains chapters 76-140 of the work's 268 chapters, that span the period from 1660 to 1667. Beginning with Princess Henrietta's arrival in 1660, it chronicles the drama of the jealous, lustful and scandal-hungry members of the French court, the love triangle between Louis, Louise, and Raoul, and concludes with d'Artagnon's return to Paris. Still widely popular today, Alexandre Dumas pioneered the historical fiction genre of literature, drawing influence from actual events and people, as well as characters and stories from his own imagination.

The Three Musketeers follows the young d'Artagnan in his quest to become a musketeer. He befriends the three musketeers Athos, Porthos and Aramis, whose motto is'all for one, one for all.'The novel is the first in Dumas'd'Artagnan Romances trilogy.

A timeless tale of adventure, romance, intrigue, and revenge,'The Three Musketeers'is the captivating story of d'Artagnan, a young man of Gascony, who is determined to become a Musketeer of the Guard. Through his wit and skill with a sword, he befriends Athos, Porthos, and Aramis and begins on the path toward his dream. They must foil the nefarious plotting of Cardinal Richelieu against the King and Queen, despite his appearance as an ally. D'Artagnan and the three Musketeers must also overcome the villainous machinations of Milady de Winter, whose lethal criminality threatens those in political power and the love of d'Artgnan for Constance Bonacieux. Dumas'classic story, first serialized in 1844, has enthralled readers with its fast-paced plot, endearing characters, and romantic ideals, immortalized by the motto'one for all, all for one.'

From the author of The King's Favorite-a new novel based on a dazzling and decadent true story of Restoration England. The daughter of a poor nobleman, Louise leaves the French countryside for the court of King Louis XIV, where she must not only please the tastes of the jaded king, but serve as a spy for France. With few friends, many rivals, and ever-shifting loyalties, Louise learns the perils of her new role. Yet she is too ambitious to be a pawn in the intrigues of others. With the promise of riches, power, and even the love of a king, Louise creates her own destiny in a dance of intrigue between two monarchs-and two countries.

'We read The Three Musketeers to experience a sense of romance and for the sheer excitement of the story,'reflected Clifton Fadiman.'In these violent pages all is action, intrigue, suspense, surprise--an almost endless chain of duels, murders, love affairs, unmaskings, ambushes, hairbreadth escapes, wild rides. It is all impossible and it is all magnificent.'First published in 1844, Alexandre Dumas's swashbuckling epic chronicles the adventures of D'Artagnan, a gallant young nobleman who journeys to Paris in 1625 hoping to join the ranks of musketeers guarding Louis XIII. He soon finds himself fighting alongside three heroic comrades--Athos, Porthos, and Aramis--who seek to uphold the honor of the king by foiling the wicked plots of Cardinal Richelieu and the beautiful spy'Milady.''Dumas will be read a hundred, nay, three hundred years on,'wrote John Galsworthy.'His greatest creation is undoubtedly D'Artagnan, type at once of the fighting adventurer and of the trusty servant, whose wily blade is ever at the back of those whose hearts have neither his magnanimity nor his courage. Few, if any, characters in fiction inspire one with such belief in their individual existences.... To one who made D'Artagnan all shall be forgiven.'Clifton Fadiman agreed:'Dumas enjoyed writing his stories.... The pleasure he must have felt in creating D'Artagnan's troubles and triumphs flashes out of these pages.... Dumas rampaged through the history of France, inventing, changing, distorting--doing whatever was needed to produce a tale to hold the reader breathless.'