What do you think?
Rate this book
আ জেন্টলম্যান অভ ফ্রান্স
বেকার এক যোদ্ধা আমি। খুবই অভাব-অনটনে কাটছে দিন। হঠাৎ রাজা এসে হাজির। আমাকে কাজ দিলেন একটা। জনা কয়েক লোক নিয়ে দুর্ভেদ্য এক দুর্গ থেকে উদ্ধার করে আনতে হবে একটা মেয়েকে। ভুল লোক বাছাই করে বিপদে পড়ে গেলাম আমি। প্রথম দিনই পকেট মারল ওরা আমার। তারপর বুঝলাম, এদের চেয়েও বড় বিপদ অপূর্ব সুন্দরী ওই মেয়েটা। উহ! মেজাজ কী! আর কী ব্যবহার!
আশ্চর্য সব ঘটনা ঘটছে একের পর এক। কিছুতেই খসাতে পারছি না আমি ওকে। কপাল খারাপ, যখনই কারও দায়িত্ব ছেড়ে দিয়ে স্বস্তি পেতে চাই, জড়িয়ে পড়ি নতুন বিপদে। শেষপর্যন্ত পারলামই না খসাতে!
আশ্চর্য সব ঘটনা ঘটছে একের পর এক। কিছুতেই খসাতে পারছি না আমি ওকে। কপাল খারাপ, যখনই কারও দায়িত্ব ছেড়ে দিয়ে স্বস্তি পেতে চাই, জড়িয়ে পড়ি নতুন বিপদে। শেষপর্যন্ত পারলামই না খসাতে!
154 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2001
39 people are currently reading
179 people want to read
About the author
Stanley J. Weyman
202 books22 followersAdmired by renowned authors such as Stevenson, Wilde, and Rafael Sabatini, Stanley John Weyman is today a forgotten literary giant of the late 19th century. While for years his best-selling historical romances enchanted thousands of readers, today his books are mostly neglected.
Stanley Weyman (pronounced Wyman) was the second of three sons born to solicitor Thomas Weyman and his wife Mary Maria Black on August 7, 1855, at 54 Broad Street, Ludlow, Shropshire. He attended King Edward VI Grammar School, Shrewsbury School (after age 16) and obtained a second class degree in Modern History at Christ Church, Oxford in 1877. As History Master at King's School, Chester, he served under his future brother-in-law, Rev'd. George Preston.
In Ludlow in 1879 he read for the Bar and was called in 1881, to begin a disappointing law career with Weyman, Weyman and Weyman, the family law firm. He has been described as nervous, shy, short in height and a poor cross-examiner and was said to have angered a judge because of these shortcomings. It is to our blessing that Weyman's law career was unsatisfactory. As a result, he was able to devote his ample spare time to writing. James Payn, editor of Cornhill Magazine, encouraged him to tackle larger literary works. The House of the Wolf was serialized in the English Illustrated Magazine in 1888/89 and was published in 1890 after Weyman contacted literary agent, A. P. Watt. This first book received no less than six rejections by publishers. Two additional books, The New Rector and The Story of Francis Cludde, were published in 1891 and these allowed him to become a full-time novelist.
Beginning his professional literary career in middle age, Weyman had a lifetime of experience to share including the insights gained from his extensive travels. On one notable vacation in the south of France in 1886, for a "weakness in the lungs" in the company of his younger brother Arthur, both were arrested as spies for sketching and crossing the border into Spain. They were detained for 24 hours until the British Ambassador helped them.
Experiences such as these are reflected in his novels. Stanley Weyman was a man of few words but those that were given were meant to be savoured. As an author, he had an uncanny way of using precisely the correct phrase. With his eloquent and extraordinary use of language, he painted a vivid picture of life and human emotion. His work is finely honed by a razor sharp mind that combines the skill of a great storyteller and an Oxford scholar's love of history.
Weyman's fame stands on the foundation of his historical, romantic fiction. The 15 novels written between 1890 and 1904 are set amidst the turmoil of 16th and 17th century France. Weyman was one of the first authors to 'cast the romance of adventure' in the historical framework. He was able to resurrect the great heroes and bring them to life by his loving hand. This author claimed: "The graves of our heroes--the real heroes--move us; the doors through which the famous dead have passed are sacred to us." Stanley Weyman regarded himself as fortunate that the timing of his early novels followed closely the popular historical fiction of Alexandre Dumas in France.
Stanley Weyman (pronounced Wyman) was the second of three sons born to solicitor Thomas Weyman and his wife Mary Maria Black on August 7, 1855, at 54 Broad Street, Ludlow, Shropshire. He attended King Edward VI Grammar School, Shrewsbury School (after age 16) and obtained a second class degree in Modern History at Christ Church, Oxford in 1877. As History Master at King's School, Chester, he served under his future brother-in-law, Rev'd. George Preston.
In Ludlow in 1879 he read for the Bar and was called in 1881, to begin a disappointing law career with Weyman, Weyman and Weyman, the family law firm. He has been described as nervous, shy, short in height and a poor cross-examiner and was said to have angered a judge because of these shortcomings. It is to our blessing that Weyman's law career was unsatisfactory. As a result, he was able to devote his ample spare time to writing. James Payn, editor of Cornhill Magazine, encouraged him to tackle larger literary works. The House of the Wolf was serialized in the English Illustrated Magazine in 1888/89 and was published in 1890 after Weyman contacted literary agent, A. P. Watt. This first book received no less than six rejections by publishers. Two additional books, The New Rector and The Story of Francis Cludde, were published in 1891 and these allowed him to become a full-time novelist.
Beginning his professional literary career in middle age, Weyman had a lifetime of experience to share including the insights gained from his extensive travels. On one notable vacation in the south of France in 1886, for a "weakness in the lungs" in the company of his younger brother Arthur, both were arrested as spies for sketching and crossing the border into Spain. They were detained for 24 hours until the British Ambassador helped them.
Experiences such as these are reflected in his novels. Stanley Weyman was a man of few words but those that were given were meant to be savoured. As an author, he had an uncanny way of using precisely the correct phrase. With his eloquent and extraordinary use of language, he painted a vivid picture of life and human emotion. His work is finely honed by a razor sharp mind that combines the skill of a great storyteller and an Oxford scholar's love of history.
Weyman's fame stands on the foundation of his historical, romantic fiction. The 15 novels written between 1890 and 1904 are set amidst the turmoil of 16th and 17th century France. Weyman was one of the first authors to 'cast the romance of adventure' in the historical framework. He was able to resurrect the great heroes and bring them to life by his loving hand. This author claimed: "The graves of our heroes--the real heroes--move us; the doors through which the famous dead have passed are sacred to us." Stanley Weyman regarded himself as fortunate that the timing of his early novels followed closely the popular historical fiction of Alexandre Dumas in France.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
February 27, 2016
Not great literature but eminently readable. A cracking good adventure which I thoroughly enjoyed.
March 5, 2013
I hear people talking about the "dated" language, but to me that simply adds to the colour of the experience of reading it -- if it were all in modern parlance I think I wouldn't feel quite as able to immerse myself in the world of it. It's not as if it's Shakespeare or Chaucer, it's still modern English after all and not rocket science to read it, it's just the odd bit of over-zealousness at not ending sentences with prepositions really.
The thing I would pick up on as most likely to cause problems to modern readers is all the assumed knowledge of France of that period, the wars of religion, the regions, the social structure (eg what it meant to be a "gentleman") and names of the powerful families and so on. In the author's defense though, these things would've been common knowledge to most of his readers as they were included in standard education at the time. But then again the same issue is presented to readers of Dumas, whom nobody would doubt was a great author.
I found it thrilling and very readable, the only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was the occasional bit where I think the author tries a bit too hard to give a sense of "build up", lingering a little too long perhaps on just how happy the protagonist is and how he expects everything to be easy... for me that just made it obvious that it *wasn't* going to be, which ruined any chance of me being sad or surprised when of course, it wasn't.
The thing I would pick up on as most likely to cause problems to modern readers is all the assumed knowledge of France of that period, the wars of religion, the regions, the social structure (eg what it meant to be a "gentleman") and names of the powerful families and so on. In the author's defense though, these things would've been common knowledge to most of his readers as they were included in standard education at the time. But then again the same issue is presented to readers of Dumas, whom nobody would doubt was a great author.
I found it thrilling and very readable, the only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was the occasional bit where I think the author tries a bit too hard to give a sense of "build up", lingering a little too long perhaps on just how happy the protagonist is and how he expects everything to be easy... for me that just made it obvious that it *wasn't* going to be, which ruined any chance of me being sad or surprised when of course, it wasn't.
February 19, 2016
Find it at Project Gutenberg here - http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1939
Find it at Manybooks.net here - http://manybooks.net/titles/weymanste...
24 JAN 2016 - group read at 19th Century Literature at Yahoo. Please join us.
https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/1...
Starting soon!
22 FEB 2015 - an enjoyable read from a new-to-me author.
Find it at Manybooks.net here - http://manybooks.net/titles/weymanste...
24 JAN 2016 - group read at 19th Century Literature at Yahoo. Please join us.
https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/1...
Starting soon!
22 FEB 2015 - an enjoyable read from a new-to-me author.
September 7, 2015
Oh, the stiff upper lip of the man - Gaston de Marsac is really a Victorian English Gentleman, in spite of the historical and geographical setting. I read this first when I was about 12, I think, and being fairly innocent, the restrained development of the relationship between de Marsac and Mademoiselle de la Vire seemed like the height of romance. And, tbh, even re-reading it now, it's moving.
De Marsac is a down-at-heel gentleman ordered to look after a well-born young lady, amid the fluid politics of C16th France. He's older than her, poorer, and rather shabby (and, it turns out, an excellent swordsman), but - of course - in the process of guarding her, he falls in love with her for her spirit and beauty - and in turn, the reader falls for Gaston's gentle kindness and sense of honour. She is a little more two-dimensional but the story works well for all that.
The language is fairly straightforward - not too much gadzookery.
Well worth looking out - it's on Gutenberg.
De Marsac is a down-at-heel gentleman ordered to look after a well-born young lady, amid the fluid politics of C16th France. He's older than her, poorer, and rather shabby (and, it turns out, an excellent swordsman), but - of course - in the process of guarding her, he falls in love with her for her spirit and beauty - and in turn, the reader falls for Gaston's gentle kindness and sense of honour. She is a little more two-dimensional but the story works well for all that.
The language is fairly straightforward - not too much gadzookery.
Well worth looking out - it's on Gutenberg.
August 23, 2017
Interesting, great read for the time period. Filled with adventure, and not at all predictable. I found myself wondering many times what would happen next, as the present adventure was wrapping up and I didn't see how the hero would continue. I appreciated how the book was very non-stereotypical.
April 24, 2014
A hugely enjoyable historic swashbuckler set in 16th century France. It has so much style and panache, that you accept as normal that characters exclaim ‘Zounds!’ every now and then. The plot has slightly more lucky coincidences than I would prefer, but not alarmingly so. The biggest fault seems to be the portrayal of women – the three that feature prominently are very two dimensional, and seem to lack any understanding of the consequences of events that occur around them, imperilling themselves as a result, and giving the impression of being a little dim.
September 5, 2010
Really enjoyed this story a lot. Reminded me of "Three Musketeers" in the evocation of that time and place.
September 13, 2014
Love this book! So much action and adventure and a great romance.
January 12, 2009
I started this book a while ago but I never finished it until last night when I wanted something easy but fun to transition between super books. Not quite Dumas lacking the epic sweep of the greatest author of historical fiction ever, but easy, fun and with enough intrigue and sword battles to be quite satisfying.
Only a bit dated in language, it's worth giving it a try especially that it's free from Gutenberg, manybooks and other free classic e-repositories.
December 15, 2021
So so. Repetitious. Predictable. Would not recommend.
March 20, 2023
Excellent swashbuckler set in the time of the (often confusing) French Wars of Religion (1587 - 1589). The story opens with aging soldier (age 40) Gaston de Bonne, Sieur de Marsac considering his dim prospects. His patron is dead, he has no master, and he has, seemingly, only his trusty horse ("Cid") and reliable sword to his name. What he also has is a brick-like steadiness of character. Loyal, brave, and still deadly with a sword. What follows is his eventual (secret) employment by Henry of Navarre (the future king of France) for a secret mission to rescue the Mademoiselle de la Vire from her kinsman, who has imprisoned her because she knows too much. To be honest, unless I missed something, I was never totally sure what it was that Mademoiselle de la Vire knew that was so dangerous. You sort of know, but you sense she is just a piece of a complicated three-dimensional chess game being played between Henry and his ever-shifting opponents. That said, I found the not-knowing added to the realism of the novel, with Marsac, never totally understanding himself, steadily sticking to his promise to protect the young noble-woman, no matter what. What unfolds in chapter after cliffhanging chapter are a number of exciting adventures. Sword-fights on a stairway and in a tavern, a thrilling chase on horseback, a touch or more of the plague. There was also some decent character development for almost all the characters. It got a bit sappy toward the end, but not in a way I thought diminished the novel. One reason for this is Weyman's superb plotting and ability to paint a scene. What a fun read! If you like Dumas, Robert Louis Stevenson (who admired Weyman's works), or old Errol Flynn movies for that matter, you can't go wrong with "A Gentleman of France." I was tipped off to the existence of this book and writer due to an enthusiastic Michael Dirda column in the Washington Post (see below link).https://www.washingtonpost.com/entert...
Want to read
August 13, 2016http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1939
Opening: The death of the Prince of Conde, which occurred in the spring of 1588, by depriving me of my only patron, reduced me to such straits that the winter of that year, which saw the King of Navarre come to spend his Christmas at St. Jean d'Angely, saw also the nadir of my fortunes. I did not know at this time—I may confess it to-day without shame—wither to turn for a gold crown or a new scabbard, and neither had nor discerned any hope of employment. The peace lately patched up at Blois between the King of France and the League persuaded many of the Huguenots that their final ruin was at hand; but it could not fill their exhausted treasury or enable them to put fresh troops into the field.
The death of the Prince had left the King of Navarre without a rival in the affections of the Huguenots; the Vicomte de Turenne, whose turbulent; ambition already began to make itself felt, and M. de Chatillon, ranking next to him. It was my ill-fortune, however, to be equally unknown to all three leaders, and as the month of December which saw me thus miserably straitened saw me reach the age of forty, which I regard, differing in that from many, as the grand climacteric of a man's life, it will be believed that I had need of all the courage which religion and a campaigner's life could supply.
March 2, 2023
An enjoyable historical romance set in France at the time of Henri IV of Navarre future king of France. It is a France of turmoil in the 16th century during the time of division between Catholic and Huguenot with plot and counter plot, ambush and assassination for the brave and impoverished soldier Gaston, Sieur de Marsac.
Synopsis
Forty-year-old M. de Marsac, a gentleman soldier, is in terrible straights. Money is the problem -- his finances have gone to hell, and soon enough his status will follow. He's a gentleman -- that is, he's gentry -- but being a gentleman isn't like being a beggared baron; there is no title for him to trade on. He grooms his own horse by cover of night, and when he goes before the court of Henry of Navarre seeking a commission, he faces ridicule because of his frayed, wear-worn clothes. But M. de Marsac knows a thing we all could stand to learn: he knows that clothes in no way make the man -- and that a true gentleman can win the respect he deserves by boldness and by courage.
If you like Rafael Sabatini then give this author a try.
Synopsis
Forty-year-old M. de Marsac, a gentleman soldier, is in terrible straights. Money is the problem -- his finances have gone to hell, and soon enough his status will follow. He's a gentleman -- that is, he's gentry -- but being a gentleman isn't like being a beggared baron; there is no title for him to trade on. He grooms his own horse by cover of night, and when he goes before the court of Henry of Navarre seeking a commission, he faces ridicule because of his frayed, wear-worn clothes. But M. de Marsac knows a thing we all could stand to learn: he knows that clothes in no way make the man -- and that a true gentleman can win the respect he deserves by boldness and by courage.
If you like Rafael Sabatini then give this author a try.
March 10, 2016
I really liked this book! Despite its being written in the POV of a French fellow in the late 16th century, it was readable and enjoyable without seeming to differ from the way he might actually have expressed himself. I do admit having to look up the term "bifurcating staircase", but those who enjoy the great classics should have no trouble with this style of writing.
The main character was plucky and resourceful and not afraid to admit his mistakes. I liked his courage and the frank expressions given in the narrative.
The main character was plucky and resourceful and not afraid to admit his mistakes. I liked his courage and the frank expressions given in the narrative.
August 10, 2020
Had never heard of this book or author, then discovered chapter 8, "The fight on the stairs' in another book called "Fifty Famous Fights In Fact And Fiction". I read it, and it so piqued my interest to know what happened in the rest of the book that I had to find and purchase it. I was NOT disappointed. I like history & swashbuckling so this fit! Also, Mr. Weyman threw in some surprises. I LIKE to be kept guessing at times. If you like Dumas pere's books; I pretty much guarantee that you will like this book to.
Want to read
January 21, 2016Free download available at Project Gutenberg.
November 22, 2025
”For as sunshine deepens the shadows which fall athwart it, and no silence is like that which follows the explosion of a mine, so sadness and poverty are never more intolerable than when hope and wealth rub elbows with them.”
✨
”In one respect the villain had profited by his present patronage, for he was decked out in a style of tawdry magnificence. But I have always remarked this about dress, that while a shabby exterior does not entirely obscure a gentleman, the extreme of fashion is powerless to gild a knave.”
✨
”Hence it was that when the first feeble beginnings of consciousness awoke in me again, they and the light stole in on me through green leaves, and overhanging boughs, and the freshness and verdure of green woods. The sunshine which reached my watery eyes was softened by its passage through great trees, which grew and expanded as I gazed up into them, until each became a verdant world, with all a world’s diversity of life.”
✨
”Sir,” my young friend said again, in the same lisping voice, “you trod on my toe.”
“I believe I did, sir,” I answered.
“You have not yet apologised,” he murmured gently in my ear.
“Nay, there you are wrong,” I rejoined bluntly, “for it is always my habit to apologise first and tread afterwards.”
✨
”In one respect the villain had profited by his present patronage, for he was decked out in a style of tawdry magnificence. But I have always remarked this about dress, that while a shabby exterior does not entirely obscure a gentleman, the extreme of fashion is powerless to gild a knave.”
✨
”Hence it was that when the first feeble beginnings of consciousness awoke in me again, they and the light stole in on me through green leaves, and overhanging boughs, and the freshness and verdure of green woods. The sunshine which reached my watery eyes was softened by its passage through great trees, which grew and expanded as I gazed up into them, until each became a verdant world, with all a world’s diversity of life.”
✨
”Sir,” my young friend said again, in the same lisping voice, “you trod on my toe.”
“I believe I did, sir,” I answered.
“You have not yet apologised,” he murmured gently in my ear.
“Nay, there you are wrong,” I rejoined bluntly, “for it is always my habit to apologise first and tread afterwards.”
August 10, 2021
Another superb book by Stanley Weyman. I don't see his writing style as old by any means. Weyman's writing is both poetic and engaging. A Gentleman of France now ranks up as my second favorite Weyman book behind My Lady Rotha (the first Weyman I ever read). This book was a little bit slower going but continued to peak as it progresses.
The book stars another dashing 17th century Frenchman who is not in favor, but whom is heroic, adventurous and bold. The general idea reads the same as My Lady Roth and Under The Red Robe, etc but still Weyman has a knack for creating adventures where you can't wait to turn the page. I hate when I get tired at night and I can't continue because I want to know what happened. As Weyman himself said he creates "Pleasant Fables", and this is another one of them and I will be back for more.
The book stars another dashing 17th century Frenchman who is not in favor, but whom is heroic, adventurous and bold. The general idea reads the same as My Lady Roth and Under The Red Robe, etc but still Weyman has a knack for creating adventures where you can't wait to turn the page. I hate when I get tired at night and I can't continue because I want to know what happened. As Weyman himself said he creates "Pleasant Fables", and this is another one of them and I will be back for more.
September 9, 2021
A wonderful old-style swashbuckler
The first person narrative takes some getting use to, but faithful reader you will be rewarded. Lovers of Dumas, Stevenson and Dickens rejoice in a new favorite.
The first person narrative takes some getting use to, but faithful reader you will be rewarded. Lovers of Dumas, Stevenson and Dickens rejoice in a new favorite.
October 11, 2021
This was not an easy read. It was an example of finishing because I started. That said, I'm glad I finished, but not thrilled that I started to begin with.
January 24, 2022
An entertaining swashbuckler, demeaned by the poor editing on the Kindle edition. There were both grammatical and punctuation errors with couldn't possibly be written by the author.
November 13, 2021
I never thought I'd be one who could not put down a swashbuckling story of adventure set in early 19th France. The first person narration hooked me. The protagonist just couldn't stay out of trouble. A flawed individual, he has his heart set in the right place. Loyalty and a strong moral compass eventually save the day. A terrific glimpse into a bygone era of saving damsels in distress and fighting to save your honor. A wonderful read.
September 16, 2021
This was a whopping great deal of fun and I wish I'd heard about this book in HS. The cinematic "dun dun DUN" moments in almost every chapter make me want to see this as a multi-part miniseries. Edgar Wright of Ant Man & Shaun of the Dead can direct.
I am not much of a reviewer - go find the recent review by Michael Dirda of the Washington Post for a really good description of the book and the fun you'll have reading it.
I am not much of a reviewer - go find the recent review by Michael Dirda of the Washington Post for a really good description of the book and the fun you'll have reading it.
December 20, 2022
Non certo all'altezza di Count Hannibal. La storia segue i ritmi (con le molteplici micro-avventure e le divagazioni) del classico romanzo settecentesco; il protagonista (che parla in prima persona), manifesta un carattere contraddittorio, in cui la rude formazione del soldato si innesta su una fondamentale sprovvedutezza.
Read
March 19, 2010A GENTLEMAN OF FRANCE by STANLEY J. WEYMAN (1924)
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews