"Clarimonde" by Théophile Gautier (translated by Lafcadio Hearn). Published by Good Press. Good Press publishes a wide range of titles that encompasses every genre. From well-known classics & literary fiction and non-fiction to forgotten−or yet undiscovered gems−of world literature, we issue the books that need to be read. Each Good Press edition has been meticulously edited and formatted to boost readability for all e-readers and devices. Our goal is to produce eBooks that are user-friendly and accessible to everyone in a high-quality digital format.
"The Cross of Berny; Or, Irene's Lovers" by Joseph Méry, Jules Sandeau, Théophile Gautier, Mme Emile de Girardin (translated by Florence Fendall, Florence Holcomb). Published by Good Press. Good Press publishes a wide range of titles that encompasses every genre. From well-known classics & literary fiction and non-fiction to forgotten−or yet undiscovered gems−of world literature, we issue the books that need to be read. Each Good Press edition has been meticulously edited and formatted to boost readability for all e-readers and devices. Our goal is to produce eBooks that are user-friendly and accessible to everyone in a high-quality digital format.
"Mademoiselle de Maupin" is a historical romance based on the life of French opera star Mademoiselle Maupin, who was a first-rate swordswoman and often went about disguised as a man. Originally, the story was to be about the historical La Maupin, who set fire to a convent for the love of another woman, but later retired to a convent herself, shortly before dying in her thirties. Gautier instead turned the plot into a simple love triangle between a man, d'Albert, and his mistress, Rosette, who both fall in love with Madelaine de Maupin, who is disguised as a man named Théodore. The novel consists of seventeen chapters, most in the form of letters written by d'Albert or Madelaine. The message behind Gautier's version of the infamous legend is the fundamental pessimism about the human identity, and perhaps the entire Romantic age.
Theophile Gautier's masterpiece «Mademoiselle de Maupin» might be better known for its lengthy preface than the actual novel itself. It is there in which the author discusses art for art's sake, arguing that «everything useful is ugly.» The novel itself is a historical romance based on the life of French opera star Julie d'Aubigny, better known as Mademoiselle Maupin. The subject of gossip and many colorful stories during her time, Mademoiselle Maupin was known as a first-rate swordswoman who often disguised herself as a man. In «Mademoiselle de Maupin» we find a love triangle between Chevalier d'Albert, a young French Gentleman who struggles with finding a woman that meets his idealistic expectations, Rosette whom he engages in an affair with to ease his boredom, and the dashing young Theodore, who is actually Maupin disguised as a man. «Mademoiselle de Maupin» is an excellent example of the French historical romance which in its time was considered somewhat controversial for its sexually orientated themes; by today's standards however it would be considered quite tame.
Well-known French writer Théophile Gautier and Bernard Lopez combine their talents in this send-up of the cloak-and-sword dramas so popular with the Romantics. When the Spanish Queen's horse runs away with her, two unknown caballeros rescue Elizabeth from certain death–despite the fact that Spanish law prohibits anyone but the King and her closest attendants from touching her. But the Queen is not ungrateful, and Doña Beatrix, a Lady-in-Waiting, promises to marry the unknown savior, sight unseen, if the Queen can somehow save her rescuer from the capital punishment demanded by statute. A comedy of errors ensues, with two possible suitors pressing their claims upon Beatrix–and also on the Queen! A delightful and hilarious drama that should play well to modern audiences.