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The Two Dianas, Volume 1
This romance is usually accredited entirely to Paul Meurice, and indeed there is little of the sprightliness and rapid movement which we have grown to expect from Dumas. At the same time it is to be noted that several of the band of adventurers who play a minor part in "Ascanio" again appear. Moreover, they are once more to the fore in "Le Page du Duc de Savoie," which Dumas wrote alone; and he even uses one or two at an impossibly anterior date in his drama "La Tour de Saint-Jacques." Meurice, it may be noted, is thought to have had a small share in "Ascanio." In 1865 this last named produced a dramatised version of "Les Deux Diane," in which Dumas had no hand, and to which he made no objection. (See under the date of 1865.) Some think that Dumas sketched the plot.
The two Dianas are Madame de Poitiers and her daughter Madame de Castro. The period is 1521-74, and includes the taking of Calais, the battle of Saint-Quentin, the death of Henri II. and the First Religious Wars.
The two Dianas are Madame de Poitiers and her daughter Madame de Castro. The period is 1521-74, and includes the taking of Calais, the battle of Saint-Quentin, the death of Henri II. and the First Religious Wars.
424 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1846
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About the author
Alexandre Dumas
5,866 books12.7k followersThis note regards Alexandre Dumas, père, the father of Alexandre Dumas, fils (son). For the son, see Alexandre Dumas fils.
Alexandre Dumas père, born Alexandre Dumas Davy de la Pailleterie, was a towering figure of 19th-century French literature whose historical novels and adventure tales earned global renown. Best known for The Three Musketeers, The Count of Monte Cristo, and other swashbuckling epics, Dumas crafted stories filled with daring heroes, dramatic twists, and vivid historical backdrops. His works, often serialized and immensely popular with the public, helped shape the modern adventure genre and remain enduring staples of world literature.
Dumas was the son of Thomas-Alexandre Dumas, a celebrated general in Revolutionary France and the highest-ranking man of African descent in a European army at the time. His father’s early death left the family in poverty, but Dumas’s upbringing was nonetheless marked by strong personal ambition and a deep admiration for his father’s achievements. He moved to Paris as a young man and began his literary career writing for the theatre, quickly rising to prominence in the Romantic movement with successful plays like Henri III et sa cour and Antony.
In the 1840s, Dumas turned increasingly toward prose fiction, particularly serialized novels, which reached vast audiences through French newspapers. His collaboration with Auguste Maquet, a skilled plotter and historian, proved fruitful. While Maquet drafted outlines and conducted research, Dumas infused the narratives with flair, dialogue, and color. The result was a string of literary triumphs, including The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo, both published in 1844. These novels exemplified Dumas’s flair for suspenseful pacing, memorable characters, and grand themes of justice, loyalty, and revenge.
The D’Artagnan Romances—The Three Musketeers, Twenty Years After, and The Vicomte of Bragelonne—cemented his fame. They follow the adventures of the titular Gascon hero and his comrades Athos, Porthos, and Aramis, blending historical fact and fiction into richly imagined narratives. The Count of Monte Cristo offered a darker, more introspective tale of betrayal and retribution, with intricate plotting and a deeply philosophical core.
Dumas was also active in journalism and theater. He founded the Théâtre Historique in Paris, which staged dramatizations of his own novels. A prolific and energetic writer, he is estimated to have written or co-written over 100,000 pages of fiction, plays, memoirs, travel books, and essays. He also had a strong interest in food and published a massive culinary encyclopedia, Le Grand Dictionnaire de cuisine, filled with recipes, anecdotes, and reflections on gastronomy.
Despite his enormous success, Dumas was frequently plagued by financial troubles. He led a lavish lifestyle, building the ornate Château de Monte-Cristo near Paris, employing large staffs, and supporting many friends and relatives. His generosity and appetite for life often outpaced his income, leading to mounting debts. Still, his creative drive rarely waned.
Dumas’s mixed-race background was a source of both pride and tension in his life. He was outspoken about his heritage and used his platform to address race and injustice. In his novel Georges, he explored issues of colonialism and identity through a Creole protagonist. Though he encountered racism, he refused to be silenced, famously replying to a racial insult by pointing to his ancestry and achievements with dignity and wit.
Later in life, Dumas continued writing and traveling, spending time in Belgium, Italy, and Russia. He supported nationalist causes, particularly Italian unification, and even founded a newspaper to advocate for Giuseppe Garibaldi. Though his popularity waned somewhat in his final years, his literary legacy grew steadily. He wrote in a style that was accessible, entertaining, and emotionally reso
Alexandre Dumas père, born Alexandre Dumas Davy de la Pailleterie, was a towering figure of 19th-century French literature whose historical novels and adventure tales earned global renown. Best known for The Three Musketeers, The Count of Monte Cristo, and other swashbuckling epics, Dumas crafted stories filled with daring heroes, dramatic twists, and vivid historical backdrops. His works, often serialized and immensely popular with the public, helped shape the modern adventure genre and remain enduring staples of world literature.
Dumas was the son of Thomas-Alexandre Dumas, a celebrated general in Revolutionary France and the highest-ranking man of African descent in a European army at the time. His father’s early death left the family in poverty, but Dumas’s upbringing was nonetheless marked by strong personal ambition and a deep admiration for his father’s achievements. He moved to Paris as a young man and began his literary career writing for the theatre, quickly rising to prominence in the Romantic movement with successful plays like Henri III et sa cour and Antony.
In the 1840s, Dumas turned increasingly toward prose fiction, particularly serialized novels, which reached vast audiences through French newspapers. His collaboration with Auguste Maquet, a skilled plotter and historian, proved fruitful. While Maquet drafted outlines and conducted research, Dumas infused the narratives with flair, dialogue, and color. The result was a string of literary triumphs, including The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo, both published in 1844. These novels exemplified Dumas’s flair for suspenseful pacing, memorable characters, and grand themes of justice, loyalty, and revenge.
The D’Artagnan Romances—The Three Musketeers, Twenty Years After, and The Vicomte of Bragelonne—cemented his fame. They follow the adventures of the titular Gascon hero and his comrades Athos, Porthos, and Aramis, blending historical fact and fiction into richly imagined narratives. The Count of Monte Cristo offered a darker, more introspective tale of betrayal and retribution, with intricate plotting and a deeply philosophical core.
Dumas was also active in journalism and theater. He founded the Théâtre Historique in Paris, which staged dramatizations of his own novels. A prolific and energetic writer, he is estimated to have written or co-written over 100,000 pages of fiction, plays, memoirs, travel books, and essays. He also had a strong interest in food and published a massive culinary encyclopedia, Le Grand Dictionnaire de cuisine, filled with recipes, anecdotes, and reflections on gastronomy.
Despite his enormous success, Dumas was frequently plagued by financial troubles. He led a lavish lifestyle, building the ornate Château de Monte-Cristo near Paris, employing large staffs, and supporting many friends and relatives. His generosity and appetite for life often outpaced his income, leading to mounting debts. Still, his creative drive rarely waned.
Dumas’s mixed-race background was a source of both pride and tension in his life. He was outspoken about his heritage and used his platform to address race and injustice. In his novel Georges, he explored issues of colonialism and identity through a Creole protagonist. Though he encountered racism, he refused to be silenced, famously replying to a racial insult by pointing to his ancestry and achievements with dignity and wit.
Later in life, Dumas continued writing and traveling, spending time in Belgium, Italy, and Russia. He supported nationalist causes, particularly Italian unification, and even founded a newspaper to advocate for Giuseppe Garibaldi. Though his popularity waned somewhat in his final years, his literary legacy grew steadily. He wrote in a style that was accessible, entertaining, and emotionally reso
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
July 18, 2009
Written in two volumes totaling just over 800 pages, The two Dianas in this tome are Diana de Poitiers, the long-time mistress of Henry II of France and their daughter Diana. On his eighteenth birthday Gabriel de Montgommery is told the truth about his birth, that he is the son of Count Jacques de Montgommery who disappeared mysteriously after his mistress Diana de Poitiers caught the eye of Henry, then Dauphine of France. Gabriel's childhood playmate Diana suddenly finds herself revealed as the daughter of King Henry and de Poitiers and the King has arranged for her to be married to the Duke of Castro, although at twelve it's to be a marriage in name only.
Several years pass as Gabriel aims for fame and fortune under the guise of the Viscount d'Exmes (it being too dangerous to use the de Montgommery name), and a widowed Diana charms the French court as a most favored daughter of the King. When the two meet again, it's love at first sight (of course), but a deep secret emerges that if true could bar the two from becoming lovers - and if not true the hatred Henry bears Gabriel's father also threatens to keep them apart. The only person who can answer the puzzle is a mysterious prisoner who has been locked away in Châtelet prison and forgotten, forbidden to utter a word.
"....and so, filled with wonder at the remarkable contrast between the two Dianas, he said to himself that God had no doubt filled the daughter with such excellent virtues in order to make good the crimes of the mother."
In Volume I Gabriel and Diana's story interweaves with that of Henry, his wife Catherine de Medici, the cold hearted Diana de Poitiers and the machinations of the French court as well as the siege of Saint Quentin and the recapture of Calais as Gabriel is willing to risk all to gain Henry's goodwill and hold him to his promise to release the prisoner in the Châtelet. In Volume II, fate and circumstances beyond his control compel Gabriel ever closer to The Last Tourney and his destiny as foretold by Nostradamus,
"En joute, en amour, cettuy touchera
Le front du roy,
Et cornes ou bien trou sanglant mettra
Au front du roy,
Mais le veuille ou non, toujours blessera
Le front du roy ;
Enfin, l’aimera, puis, las ! le tuera
Dame du roy."
Google translation:
"In game, in love, cettuy touch
The front of the King,
And horns or bloody hole will
In front of Roy,
But like it or not, always hurt
The front of the king;
Finally, love, and then, las! the kill
Dame du roy."
The latter part of Volume II switches gears and concentrates less on the two lovers and more on the growing unrest between the Catholics and the Huguenots, the Amboise conspiracy, as well as the battle for power and control of the throne between the de Guises and Catherine de Medici, and might be a bit slow paced for some readers (especially if you're not familiar with the period), but I found it fascinating. I was fortunate enough to have read a couple of books recently that deal with the same period and characters, but don't be afraid to spend a bit of time researching them if you're feeling lost as to who's who. No lengthy author's notes or genealogy charts in these 100 year old volumes.
This was a fabulous read packed with star-crossed lovers, mystery, treachery, intrigue and more - let alone the addition of Martin Guerre and his infamous look-alike as Gabriel's squire. ROFL at the predicaments poor Martin always found himself embroiled in at the hands of Arnold du Thull. What a joy to accidentally come across this long-forgotten Dumas, and I heartily recommend it to any Dumas fan or those interested in reading up on this period in France's history - although the real Diana de Castro's fate is different from what Dumas wrote.
Side note: I do see that this has been published recently by two different publishing houses and without being able to compare the text online I would tread cautiously. Both claim to have 400 pages (a tad bit less than the 800 I read), let alone knowing who translated it - a bad Dumas translation can turn a great book into something quite mediocre. From looking at the online sellers there are plenty of the 1910 Collier editions available for sale - and don't forget to try for an interlibrary loan. You might get lucky, I did.
Several years pass as Gabriel aims for fame and fortune under the guise of the Viscount d'Exmes (it being too dangerous to use the de Montgommery name), and a widowed Diana charms the French court as a most favored daughter of the King. When the two meet again, it's love at first sight (of course), but a deep secret emerges that if true could bar the two from becoming lovers - and if not true the hatred Henry bears Gabriel's father also threatens to keep them apart. The only person who can answer the puzzle is a mysterious prisoner who has been locked away in Châtelet prison and forgotten, forbidden to utter a word.
"....and so, filled with wonder at the remarkable contrast between the two Dianas, he said to himself that God had no doubt filled the daughter with such excellent virtues in order to make good the crimes of the mother."
In Volume I Gabriel and Diana's story interweaves with that of Henry, his wife Catherine de Medici, the cold hearted Diana de Poitiers and the machinations of the French court as well as the siege of Saint Quentin and the recapture of Calais as Gabriel is willing to risk all to gain Henry's goodwill and hold him to his promise to release the prisoner in the Châtelet. In Volume II, fate and circumstances beyond his control compel Gabriel ever closer to The Last Tourney and his destiny as foretold by Nostradamus,
"En joute, en amour, cettuy touchera
Le front du roy,
Et cornes ou bien trou sanglant mettra
Au front du roy,
Mais le veuille ou non, toujours blessera
Le front du roy ;
Enfin, l’aimera, puis, las ! le tuera
Dame du roy."
Google translation:
"In game, in love, cettuy touch
The front of the King,
And horns or bloody hole will
In front of Roy,
But like it or not, always hurt
The front of the king;
Finally, love, and then, las! the kill
Dame du roy."
The latter part of Volume II switches gears and concentrates less on the two lovers and more on the growing unrest between the Catholics and the Huguenots, the Amboise conspiracy, as well as the battle for power and control of the throne between the de Guises and Catherine de Medici, and might be a bit slow paced for some readers (especially if you're not familiar with the period), but I found it fascinating. I was fortunate enough to have read a couple of books recently that deal with the same period and characters, but don't be afraid to spend a bit of time researching them if you're feeling lost as to who's who. No lengthy author's notes or genealogy charts in these 100 year old volumes.
This was a fabulous read packed with star-crossed lovers, mystery, treachery, intrigue and more - let alone the addition of Martin Guerre and his infamous look-alike as Gabriel's squire. ROFL at the predicaments poor Martin always found himself embroiled in at the hands of Arnold du Thull. What a joy to accidentally come across this long-forgotten Dumas, and I heartily recommend it to any Dumas fan or those interested in reading up on this period in France's history - although the real Diana de Castro's fate is different from what Dumas wrote.
Side note: I do see that this has been published recently by two different publishing houses and without being able to compare the text online I would tread cautiously. Both claim to have 400 pages (a tad bit less than the 800 I read), let alone knowing who translated it - a bad Dumas translation can turn a great book into something quite mediocre. From looking at the online sellers there are plenty of the 1910 Collier editions available for sale - and don't forget to try for an interlibrary loan. You might get lucky, I did.
August 27, 2009
The Two Diana's is split into two volumes, each about 400 pages long. Apparently there are different translations out there and you have to be careful about what you read. I got a 1910 Collier and Sons edition and thought it read beautifully. As a bonus, it also included a few really great illustrations.
This was my first Dumas since high school, when I read The Count of Monte Cristo and The Man in the Iron Mask. Though it's been a decade since I read those, I felt like the Two Diana's was reminiscent of the style and plotlines I loved in those more famous books.
The story follows Gabriel Montgomery, son of Jacques Montgomery, supposed lover of Diane de Poiters - favorite of King Henry II. Gabriel grows up ignorant of his heritage and is told by his nurse/guardian on his 18th Birthday. Her revelation has far reaching consequences.
Gabriel's childhood friend and sweetheart, Diana, receives her own revelation at about the same time. Much of the story centers around their thwarted love. The rest is about Gabriel's quest for justice/revenge.
There is also a side plot about Martin Guerre, Gabriel's loyal squire, that is very entertaining.
I thought The Two Diana's was a story very well told. It was engaging from the first pages and remained a lot of fun to read.
This was my first Dumas since high school, when I read The Count of Monte Cristo and The Man in the Iron Mask. Though it's been a decade since I read those, I felt like the Two Diana's was reminiscent of the style and plotlines I loved in those more famous books.
The story follows Gabriel Montgomery, son of Jacques Montgomery, supposed lover of Diane de Poiters - favorite of King Henry II. Gabriel grows up ignorant of his heritage and is told by his nurse/guardian on his 18th Birthday. Her revelation has far reaching consequences.
Gabriel's childhood friend and sweetheart, Diana, receives her own revelation at about the same time. Much of the story centers around their thwarted love. The rest is about Gabriel's quest for justice/revenge.
There is also a side plot about Martin Guerre, Gabriel's loyal squire, that is very entertaining.
I thought The Two Diana's was a story very well told. It was engaging from the first pages and remained a lot of fun to read.
July 26, 2022
3.5/5
I just love Dumas’ works. They're compelling, very complex, full of loyalty, love, intrigue and politics, and you also learn A LOT about french history during the 16th century. ESPECIALLY when it comes to the religious conflict between the Catholics and the Protestants.
One thing that I really appreciate is that Dumas manages to stay neutral as he doesn't paint one side better than the other one. They both did pretty terrible stuff but they also both had brave, honourable men within their party. But Katharine Medici – gosh, I already hated that woman in the Last Valois series and in this book I did even more.
And yet, the reason I’m giving this “only” 3.5 stars is that it just can't compete with his other works like The Three Musketeers, The Count of Monte Christo or The Forty-five Guardsmen. You know, it was a solid book but not even close to my favourite books of his.
I just love Dumas’ works. They're compelling, very complex, full of loyalty, love, intrigue and politics, and you also learn A LOT about french history during the 16th century. ESPECIALLY when it comes to the religious conflict between the Catholics and the Protestants.
One thing that I really appreciate is that Dumas manages to stay neutral as he doesn't paint one side better than the other one. They both did pretty terrible stuff but they also both had brave, honourable men within their party. But Katharine Medici – gosh, I already hated that woman in the Last Valois series and in this book I did even more.
And yet, the reason I’m giving this “only” 3.5 stars is that it just can't compete with his other works like The Three Musketeers, The Count of Monte Christo or The Forty-five Guardsmen. You know, it was a solid book but not even close to my favourite books of his.
July 29, 2019
A rather nice sweet book by Dumas. No tour de force like his other works of the same genre and period, but, for an introductory book, it was rather fun. Unlike other similar works, this was definitely an obvious two parter. It was not a book within its own right as no tying up an ending. No cliffhanger, but an open ended ending for a continuation.
The book has all the Hall marks and recipe for a great swashbuckling adventure, but, just happily trundles along. Of course we have plots, intrigue, court, romance, but, it just falls short somehow.
The book has all the Hall marks and recipe for a great swashbuckling adventure, but, just happily trundles along. Of course we have plots, intrigue, court, romance, but, it just falls short somehow.
September 1, 2019
I read Two Dianas and I quite liked it. It was about guy named Gabriel Montgomery who how I can say he was very unlucky. It happened in the mid of 16th century. It happened in France. I read it in Russian language. It is written in a detective and mystery way. It also tells us about a story adding history moments so I can call it a kind of history fiction book. I would recommend this book to everyone who likes reading.
April 15, 2021
Povestea este foarte interesanta, insa pe alocuri este plictisitoare. Nu cred ca generatia tanara va citi cu placere cartea asta si asta deoarece nu se va regasi niciodata in virtutiile acelei vremi: onoare dusa la extrem, respectarea cuvantului dat, candoare, dragoste poetica...
September 12, 2018
Sometimes parts from it revive in my mind and I can feel the wonder of the child that I was reading this book.
May 27, 2020
On to book 2. This was written by the Dumas assistants .... the history is interesting but it's not up to the master's best...
February 17, 2022
czyta się lekko i przyjemnie, fabuła jest świetna, tylko bohaterowie sa sztuczni i irytujący
January 10, 2017
Cred că ceea ce mă face să iubesc cărțile lui Dumas este faptul că reuşeşte să introducă în poveştile sale, pe lângă toate intrigile, toate personajele perfide şi degradate, şi făpturi pure şi pline de curaj care iubesc cu toată inocența. Oferă o rază de lumină în acea lume.
Nu sunt tocmai o iubitoare a istoriei, în sensul că nu aş citi cărți doar cu fapte mărețe şi nimic mai mult fiindcă, ei bine, m-aş plictisi. Dar cărțile de acest fel mă captivează şi de cele mai multe ori sfârşesc prin a căuta date despre anumite personaje. În felul acesta am o imagine mai clară în minte şi fiindcă am citit şi seria Valois pot face anumite legături.
Ştiu că, la un moment dat, Gabriel a recunoscut diferența dintre cele două Diane: faptul că pe cât este de vicleană şi de rea mama, pe atât a făcut-o Dumnezeu pe fiică mai bună şi mai blândă. Şi oh, cât adevăr a grăit. Nu o să încep să fac un rezumat al acestui volum, însă m-a impresionat iubirea de care a dat dovadă tânărul, atât pentru Diana, cât şi pentru tatăl său pe care spera să îl elibereze. Cât de cruzi sunt cei ce se află la putere, dar cât de nobil este Gabriel care este capabil să cucerească un întreg oraş, pentru a salva ființele pe care le iubeşte.
Nu sunt tocmai o iubitoare a istoriei, în sensul că nu aş citi cărți doar cu fapte mărețe şi nimic mai mult fiindcă, ei bine, m-aş plictisi. Dar cărțile de acest fel mă captivează şi de cele mai multe ori sfârşesc prin a căuta date despre anumite personaje. În felul acesta am o imagine mai clară în minte şi fiindcă am citit şi seria Valois pot face anumite legături.
Ştiu că, la un moment dat, Gabriel a recunoscut diferența dintre cele două Diane: faptul că pe cât este de vicleană şi de rea mama, pe atât a făcut-o Dumnezeu pe fiică mai bună şi mai blândă. Şi oh, cât adevăr a grăit. Nu o să încep să fac un rezumat al acestui volum, însă m-a impresionat iubirea de care a dat dovadă tânărul, atât pentru Diana, cât şi pentru tatăl său pe care spera să îl elibereze. Cât de cruzi sunt cei ce se află la putere, dar cât de nobil este Gabriel care este capabil să cucerească un întreg oraş, pentru a salva ființele pe care le iubeşte.
April 9, 2012
1st half of this book. Not his strongest. From what I've read online, he probably didn't write any of it. It was sketched by him but was written almost entirely by a collaborator.
Set in the early years of Henri II's reign with a young Catherine de Medici as his queen. We see the conflict of Protestant and Catholic brewing but not yet boiling over. This tells the story of Diana de Poitiers (Henri II's mistress) and Diana de Castro, the King's illegitimate daughter who is in love with the son of the imprisoned Count de Montgommery. This first book fleshes out the characters and their relationships as well as the seige and fall of St. Quentin to the English and Spanish. Gabriel, the Vicount of Montgommery, and Diana de Castro taken hostage by the English in Calais after the fall of St. Quentin. Gabriel is released for payment of his bond but Diana is kept out of love for her by her jailer. Diana is then rescued by Gabriel who works with the French to capture Calais.
Could have been great in Dumas' actual hands.
Set in the early years of Henri II's reign with a young Catherine de Medici as his queen. We see the conflict of Protestant and Catholic brewing but not yet boiling over. This tells the story of Diana de Poitiers (Henri II's mistress) and Diana de Castro, the King's illegitimate daughter who is in love with the son of the imprisoned Count de Montgommery. This first book fleshes out the characters and their relationships as well as the seige and fall of St. Quentin to the English and Spanish. Gabriel, the Vicount of Montgommery, and Diana de Castro taken hostage by the English in Calais after the fall of St. Quentin. Gabriel is released for payment of his bond but Diana is kept out of love for her by her jailer. Diana is then rescued by Gabriel who works with the French to capture Calais.
Could have been great in Dumas' actual hands.
July 16, 2009
The story of Diana de Poitiers (mistress of Henry II) and her daughter, Diana de Castro. In this first volume, the battles of Saint-Quentin and the first battle of Calais are reported. Dumas as an unique way to write tremendous dialogues. Looking forward to read Volume II. It is curious how this book is not so well known.
February 21, 2011
A great historical romance that takes place during Henry II's reign of France.
March 22, 2014
Love all Dumas books, this one was not my favourite but I did enjoy it.
March 18, 2026
I could not get into this at all.
June 3, 2013
One of the best books ever.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews