What do you think?
Rate this book
Duke de Richleau #1
The Prisoner in the Mask
Jan 1894 - Oct 1903
The Duke de Richleau had British nationality. But why? Why should a French aristocrat renounce his country and live in exile? The answer lay in the Paris of the nineties; a world of superficial glamour, and under the surface, deep social and political trouble. The army, discredited by the Dreyfus case, was being purged. The young de Richleau, cadet and then instructor at the military academy of St. Cyr, became involved in a conspiracy. A conspiracy to restore the French monarchy. The Duc de Vendome was secretly coached in his future role of King.
Then, the conspiracy was betrayed. The results: death for some. For Richleau, the life of a fugitive, but a fugitive who had declared a single-handed vendetta against the government; who was determined to rescue the Prince.
The Duke de Richleau had British nationality. But why? Why should a French aristocrat renounce his country and live in exile? The answer lay in the Paris of the nineties; a world of superficial glamour, and under the surface, deep social and political trouble. The army, discredited by the Dreyfus case, was being purged. The young de Richleau, cadet and then instructor at the military academy of St. Cyr, became involved in a conspiracy. A conspiracy to restore the French monarchy. The Duc de Vendome was secretly coached in his future role of King.
Then, the conspiracy was betrayed. The results: death for some. For Richleau, the life of a fugitive, but a fugitive who had declared a single-handed vendetta against the government; who was determined to rescue the Prince.
383 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1957
23 people are currently reading
287 people want to read
About the author
Dennis Wheatley
380 books246 followersDennis Yates Wheatley (8 January 1897 – 10 November 1977) [Born: Dennis Yeats Wheatley] was an English author. His prolific output of stylish thrillers and occult novels made him one of the world's best-selling authors in the 1950s and 1960s.
His first book, Three Inquisitive People, was not immediately published; but his first published novel, The Forbidden Territory, was an immediate success when published in 1933, being reprinted seven times in seven weeks.
He wrote adventure stories, with many books in a series of linked works. His plots covered the French Revolution (Roger Brook Series), Satanism (Duc de Richleau), World War II (Gregory Sallust) and espionage (Julian Day).
In the thirties, he conceived a series of whodunit mysteries, presented as case files, with testimonies, letters, pieces of evidence such as hairs or pills. The reader had to go through the evidence to solve the mystery before unsealing the last pages of the file, which gave the answer. Four of these 'Crime Dossiers' were published: Murder Off Miami, Who Killed Robert Prentice, The Malinsay Massacre, and Herewith The Clues.
In the 1960s his publishers were selling a million copies of his books per year. A small number of his books were made into films by Hammer, of which the best known is The Devil Rides Out (book 1934, film 1968). His writing is very descriptive and in many works he manages to introduce his characters into real events while meeting real people. For example, in the Roger Brook series the main character involves himself with Napoleon, and Joséphine whilst being a spy for the Prime Minister William Pitt. Similarly, in the Gregory Sallust series, Sallust shares an evening meal with Hermann Göring.
He also wrote non-fiction works, including accounts of the Russian Revolution and King Charles II, and his autobiography. He was considered an authority on the supernatural, satanism, the practice of exorcism, and black magic, to all of which he was hostile. During his study of the paranormal, though, he joined the Ghost Club.
From 1974 through 1977 he edited a series of 45 paperback reprints for the British publisher Sphere under the heading "The Dennis Wheatley Library of the Occult", selecting the titles and writing short introductions for each book. This series included both occult-themed novels by the likes of Bram Stoker and Aleister Crowley and non-fiction works on magic, occultism, and divination by authors such as the Theosophist H. P. Blavatsky, the historian Maurice Magre, the magician Isaac Bonewits, and the palm-reader Cheiro.
Two weeks before his death in November 1977, Wheatley received conditional absolution from his old friend Cyril ‘Bobby’ Eastaugh, the Bishop of Peterborough.
His estate library was sold in a catalogue sale by Basil Blackwell's in the 1970s, indicating a thoroughly well-read individual with wide-ranging interests particularly in historical fiction and Europe. His influence has declined, partly due to difficulties in reprinting his works owing to copyright problems.
Fifty-two of Wheatley's novels were published posthumously in a set by Heron Books UK. More recently, in April 2008 Dennis Wheatley's literary estate was acquired by media company Chorion.
He invented a number of board games including Invasion.
-Wikipedia
His first book, Three Inquisitive People, was not immediately published; but his first published novel, The Forbidden Territory, was an immediate success when published in 1933, being reprinted seven times in seven weeks.
He wrote adventure stories, with many books in a series of linked works. His plots covered the French Revolution (Roger Brook Series), Satanism (Duc de Richleau), World War II (Gregory Sallust) and espionage (Julian Day).
In the thirties, he conceived a series of whodunit mysteries, presented as case files, with testimonies, letters, pieces of evidence such as hairs or pills. The reader had to go through the evidence to solve the mystery before unsealing the last pages of the file, which gave the answer. Four of these 'Crime Dossiers' were published: Murder Off Miami, Who Killed Robert Prentice, The Malinsay Massacre, and Herewith The Clues.
In the 1960s his publishers were selling a million copies of his books per year. A small number of his books were made into films by Hammer, of which the best known is The Devil Rides Out (book 1934, film 1968). His writing is very descriptive and in many works he manages to introduce his characters into real events while meeting real people. For example, in the Roger Brook series the main character involves himself with Napoleon, and Joséphine whilst being a spy for the Prime Minister William Pitt. Similarly, in the Gregory Sallust series, Sallust shares an evening meal with Hermann Göring.
He also wrote non-fiction works, including accounts of the Russian Revolution and King Charles II, and his autobiography. He was considered an authority on the supernatural, satanism, the practice of exorcism, and black magic, to all of which he was hostile. During his study of the paranormal, though, he joined the Ghost Club.
From 1974 through 1977 he edited a series of 45 paperback reprints for the British publisher Sphere under the heading "The Dennis Wheatley Library of the Occult", selecting the titles and writing short introductions for each book. This series included both occult-themed novels by the likes of Bram Stoker and Aleister Crowley and non-fiction works on magic, occultism, and divination by authors such as the Theosophist H. P. Blavatsky, the historian Maurice Magre, the magician Isaac Bonewits, and the palm-reader Cheiro.
Two weeks before his death in November 1977, Wheatley received conditional absolution from his old friend Cyril ‘Bobby’ Eastaugh, the Bishop of Peterborough.
His estate library was sold in a catalogue sale by Basil Blackwell's in the 1970s, indicating a thoroughly well-read individual with wide-ranging interests particularly in historical fiction and Europe. His influence has declined, partly due to difficulties in reprinting his works owing to copyright problems.
Fifty-two of Wheatley's novels were published posthumously in a set by Heron Books UK. More recently, in April 2008 Dennis Wheatley's literary estate was acquired by media company Chorion.
He invented a number of board games including Invasion.
-Wikipedia
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
October 5, 2018
Really enjoyable, and superb insight into late 19th century French political intrigue.
September 19, 2024
A good historical read that i enjoyed.
Though I know of the French Revolution, this book has deepened my knowledge and intrigue into reading more .
The only other fiction that I have read about this time period , is Dickens book A Tale Of Two Cities - which i still love.
This has been a less dramatic telling as Wheatley writes in a drier manner , but its still a good read .
I really liked Armand Jean du Plessis , the experiences he had during the time of The French Revolution have been risky and dangerous . For him to be rewarded and become the Duke of Richelieu , one of the most famous men in French history was so good to read.
Though I know of the French Revolution, this book has deepened my knowledge and intrigue into reading more .
The only other fiction that I have read about this time period , is Dickens book A Tale Of Two Cities - which i still love.
This has been a less dramatic telling as Wheatley writes in a drier manner , but its still a good read .
I really liked Armand Jean du Plessis , the experiences he had during the time of The French Revolution have been risky and dangerous . For him to be rewarded and become the Duke of Richelieu , one of the most famous men in French history was so good to read.
November 27, 2018
Wonderful. Tour de force historical thriller.
January 5, 2019
One of his more long winded and historical books, but as its a De Richleau book, its still good.
March 7, 2022
Oh man, this gripping espionage thriller would be rated a tad higher by me if it weren't for the opening chapters. This being my first Wheatley book, I was unaccustomed to the flowery, sometimes too much so, prose, as well as names and historic events being thrown about rapid fire in the beginning. However, once the action moves from introducing characters and settings, to getting to know our protaganist, the young Armand de Quesnoy (the future Duke de Richleau played so splendidly by Christopher Lee in the Devil Rides Out), and his future love Angela Syveton the language slows down and Wheatley begins to open up his world to us. And what a world!! Here it's all intrigue, manners, duels, and plotting during the French Third Republic and I was buckled in by that point. The characters are the types to sit in smoking rooms, while actually using a decanter for their drinks, and engaging in affairs...I am a sucker for that kind of world. The plot takes shape slowly, and at one point as the title suggests begins to resemble a famous Dumas work, however it's neatly done as homage, and not a ripoff-the characters even reference it. I will be on the look out for more Wheatley and Duke de Richleau stories soon!
September 23, 2023
Very good novel woven around a very divisive period of French politics. It take place at the tail end of the infamous Dreyfus affair. Yes, it’s an adventure novel, but I was quite surprised by how much I enjoyed it. No black magic in this tale, but no less enjoyable for its absence. There are some outdated opinions in this book, which you can pass over, but I was pleasantly surprised by Wheatley’s political opinions in the tale. It has been said that he transmits his love of right wing policies in his narratives , but this is much more evenhanded; warning of political corruption on all sides.
A good novel , maybe it’s time for this writer to be rediscovered.
A good novel , maybe it’s time for this writer to be rediscovered.
July 31, 2022
Heavy going
I found it difficult to feel any sympathy for the main protagonist, who reflected Wheatley's right-wing bigotry. The arrogant character is far from endearing and his attitude to the 'lower orders' offensive. The dialogue is turgid and unconvincing.
I found it difficult to feel any sympathy for the main protagonist, who reflected Wheatley's right-wing bigotry. The arrogant character is far from endearing and his attitude to the 'lower orders' offensive. The dialogue is turgid and unconvincing.
October 28, 2014
A rip roaring trip through Paris in the naughty nineties and early twentieth century. Wheatley mixes historical events into the story with an elegance that few thriller writers have. This story has aged better than many of his works avoiding the heavy handed politics and decidedly old fashioned (to say the least) mores that can make his work trying for the modern sensibilities. Put simply if Wheatley were alive today he would be a celebrity UKIP supporter, if he could be convinced that they weren't dangerously liberal and worryingly middle class!
December 12, 2017
I started reading this after the more famous The Devil Rides Out which I believe is actually the 4th in the series. However it was a surprise to find this to be more in the vein of The Man in the Iron Mask and The Count of Monte Cristo. No where up to the standard of the latter but a good adventure yarn with an historical background. I'll be reading the next in the series.
December 31, 2013
Wonderfully atmospheric read introducing one of the greatest heroes ever seen in Western literature...
Read
January 9, 2015One of many books from this book club and this author. Not sure when I finished this, but guessing 1975
August 2, 2015
It was interesting thrilling
November 25, 2018
Most thrillers give the reader hald a dozen heart-stoppers. If the reader is at all lucky.
Wheatley gives us about 25.
Wheatley gives us about 25.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews