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Le Bossu
Est-il besoin de présenter l’histoire du chevalier de Lagardère qui, pour venir en aide à la malheureuse Aurore de Nevers, privée de son père, de son nom et de sa fortune, affronte les ennemis les plus cyniques et les plus corrompus ?
En faisant surgir, dans le Paris de la Régence (1715-1722), possédé par la fièvre financière du système de Law, l’inoffensif bossu qui prête son dos aux spéculateurs et aux agioteurs de tout poil, Paul Féval (1817-1887) a donné à la littérature française une de ses figures les plus populaires, avec Jean Valjean, d’Artagnan et Cyrano.
Intrigues, duels, guets-apens, coups de théâtre, sur la toile de fond d’un Paris aux ruelles sordides, menaçantes, et d’une Cour étincelante et dépravée : rien ne manque dans ce "roman de cape et d’épée", jusqu’au moment où la terrible "botte de Nevers" punira le crime et fera triompher la justice...
En faisant surgir, dans le Paris de la Régence (1715-1722), possédé par la fièvre financière du système de Law, l’inoffensif bossu qui prête son dos aux spéculateurs et aux agioteurs de tout poil, Paul Féval (1817-1887) a donné à la littérature française une de ses figures les plus populaires, avec Jean Valjean, d’Artagnan et Cyrano.
Intrigues, duels, guets-apens, coups de théâtre, sur la toile de fond d’un Paris aux ruelles sordides, menaçantes, et d’une Cour étincelante et dépravée : rien ne manque dans ce "roman de cape et d’épée", jusqu’au moment où la terrible "botte de Nevers" punira le crime et fera triompher la justice...
350 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1857
25 people are currently reading
625 people want to read
About the author
Paul Féval père
499 books40 followersFor works by this author's son, please see: Paul Féval fils.
Paul Henri Corentin Féval, père, (1816-1887) was the author of popular swashbucklers, such as Le Loup Blanc (1843) and the perennial best seller Le Bossu (1857). He also penned the seminal Knightshade, The Vampire Countess and Vampire City. His greatest claim to fame was as one of the fathers of the modern crime thriller. Because of its themes and characters, his novel Jean Diable (1862) can claim to be the world's first modern detective novel. His masterpiece was Les Habits Noirs (1863-75), a criminal saga written over a twelve year period comprised of seven novels. After losing his fortune in a financial scandal, Féval became a born again Christian, stopped writing crime thrillers, and began to write religious novels, sadly leaving the tale of the Black Coats uncompleted.
Paul Henri Corentin Féval, père, (1816-1887) was the author of popular swashbucklers, such as Le Loup Blanc (1843) and the perennial best seller Le Bossu (1857). He also penned the seminal Knightshade, The Vampire Countess and Vampire City. His greatest claim to fame was as one of the fathers of the modern crime thriller. Because of its themes and characters, his novel Jean Diable (1862) can claim to be the world's first modern detective novel. His masterpiece was Les Habits Noirs (1863-75), a criminal saga written over a twelve year period comprised of seven novels. After losing his fortune in a financial scandal, Féval became a born again Christian, stopped writing crime thrillers, and began to write religious novels, sadly leaving the tale of the Black Coats uncompleted.
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October 11, 2022
edit ottobre 2022
A distanza di un anno, sottoscrivo e comunque riscriverei ogni parola di allora. Non ha perso freschezza nemmeno a leggerlo con la trama già conosciuta e tutti i dettagli già ben noti in anticipo.
note settembre 2021
Questo feuilleton è tutto fuor che perfetto: la trama intricatissima e contorta si caratterizza per alcune ingenuità nonché formidabili coincidenze in perfetto stile Hugo, però nel contempo non vi è traccia dell'erudizione di Hugo. Per dirla tutta, Féval si cimenta forse forse in un tentativo di imitare un po' Hugo, inserendo qua e là qualche nozioncina di Storia, qualche accenno di arte o architettura quando ci si trova a Parigi, qualche altro accenno socio-politico-economico, qualche battuta vagamente sarcastica... ovviamente siamo ben lontani dagli approfondimenti cui ci ha abituati Hugo, ma comunque sia questi rapidi inserimenti di Féval non mi sono mai parsi stonati. Per concludere il discorso del paragone con Hugo, occorre notare che sono più di uno gli elementi che riprendono Notre-Dame: ovviamente la presenza di un gobbo; ovviamente Parigi; il rapporto madre-figlia riscoperto a distanza di tanti anni; la comunità di gitani/zingari/spagnoli.
La scrittura non ha nulla di sensazionale o di fenomenale; a peggiorare le cose c'è una traduzione che si intuisce essere molto approssimativa insieme a una miriade di fastidiosissimi refusi in una edizione per nulla curata, anzi proprio trascurata. I personaggi sono per lo più abbozzati, non arrivo a definirli piatti e bidimensionali ma per essere aderente al vero devo riconoscere che si tratta di figure in bassorilievo. E allora, che cosa rimane per cui entusiasmarsi?
Rimane che questo bassorilievo, pur con tutti i suoi difetti, ha il fascino e l'eleganza di un bassorilievo etrusco; ha la piacevolezza e l'incedere delle fiabe antiche, raccontate in termini semplici e per questo universali. Il concetto di anti-eroe o la complessità di certe psicologie sono galassie lontane anni-luce, qui siamo ancora in quel mondo che vuole che gli eroi siano tutti giovani e belli. Ancor meglio, ancor di più, qui tutti i personaggi sono giovani e belli: il principale antagonista è bello e affascinante, ma l'eroe protagonista lo è ancora di più: biondissimo, bellissimo come Apollo, romanticissimo, perfettissimo, coerentissimo e infallibilissimo. L'amica della protagonista è molto bella, ma la protagonista è La Più Bella in assoluto, un angelo in confronto a lei sembrerebbe un ente vagamente diabolico. Anche l'epoca in sé: qui si descrive un diciottesimo secolo assolutamente idealizzato e cristallizzato più nelle sue bellezze e atmosfere che non nei suoi difetti, per non parlare del romanticismo delle ambientazioni in Spagna e poi tra i Pirenei con l'antico maniero di Caylus. In un altro momento e/o in un altro contesto, tutta questa sovrabbondanza di bellezza mi sarebbe risultata indigesta, ma qui è stata messa giù con la doverosa sincerità e semplicità e alla fine di tutto, il risultato è la sensazione di un abbraccio gentile da parte dell'autore nei confronti del lettore, e il cielo sa se non sia questo lo scopo ultimo di una bella favola (nonché feuilleton).
Prettamente ottocentesco è l'amore tra i due protagonisti: dapprima timoroso, poi tormentato, rimescolato, teatrale, ovviamente totalizzante, ma sa essere a suo modo coinvolgente e commovente.
Questa volta l'esperimento è egregiamente riuscito: un film piacevole ha dato lo spunto per una lettura che si è rivelata molto più ricca, molto più ampia, molto più complessa, molto più tutto. Quindi, per coloro che hanno visto il film, il libro è consigliatissimo così come per tutti gli altri, perché vi si troverà tutt'un altro film. Scordatevi Daniel Auteuil e compagnia (di tutto il cast, l'unico riutilizzabile nel libro sarebbe forse Vicent Pérez); scordatevi anche la trama del film, perché dal libro sono stati presi solo alcuni passaggi e alcune idee che sono poi stati "rimontati" secondo uno schema molto molto differente.
"La media matematica degli innegabili difetti del libro con il piacere della lettura e con il buon esito dell'esperimento dalla celluloide alla carta, forse non consente di arrivare a cinque stelle piene piene ma quattro e mezza non gliele toglie nessuno": così, politically correct, dicevano fin verso la metà del libro i miei trigliceridi, già appagati dalla scena della dichiarazione d'amore. Ma non avevano ancora visto tutto: da un certo momento in poi è iniziata una raffica di scene epiche, a mo' di esempio citerò soltanto quella in cui il Bel Lagardère sconfigge un supposto rivale in amore in un duello, non all'ultimo colpo di spada bensì all'ultimo bicchiere di champagne (in pratica una gara a chi regge meglio l'alcool: perché nel film ci hanno privato di questa scena, eh? Perché?), e poi il colpo d'astuzia che ne consegue, insomma da quel momento in poi ho ancor più trovato una lettura degna delle migliori trovate di Dumas, e che dire del finale dalla pura ambientazione gotica, e allora al diavolo la media matematica, vada per le cinque stelle e mi sa che il film non lo vedrò più, aspetterò qualche mese e poi se ce ne sarà bisogno mi concederò il lusso di una rilettura.
A distanza di un anno, sottoscrivo e comunque riscriverei ogni parola di allora. Non ha perso freschezza nemmeno a leggerlo con la trama già conosciuta e tutti i dettagli già ben noti in anticipo.
note settembre 2021
Questo feuilleton è tutto fuor che perfetto: la trama intricatissima e contorta si caratterizza per alcune ingenuità nonché formidabili coincidenze in perfetto stile Hugo, però nel contempo non vi è traccia dell'erudizione di Hugo. Per dirla tutta, Féval si cimenta forse forse in un tentativo di imitare un po' Hugo, inserendo qua e là qualche nozioncina di Storia, qualche accenno di arte o architettura quando ci si trova a Parigi, qualche altro accenno socio-politico-economico, qualche battuta vagamente sarcastica... ovviamente siamo ben lontani dagli approfondimenti cui ci ha abituati Hugo, ma comunque sia questi rapidi inserimenti di Féval non mi sono mai parsi stonati. Per concludere il discorso del paragone con Hugo, occorre notare che sono più di uno gli elementi che riprendono Notre-Dame: ovviamente la presenza di un gobbo; ovviamente Parigi; il rapporto madre-figlia riscoperto a distanza di tanti anni; la comunità di gitani/zingari/spagnoli.
La scrittura non ha nulla di sensazionale o di fenomenale; a peggiorare le cose c'è una traduzione che si intuisce essere molto approssimativa insieme a una miriade di fastidiosissimi refusi in una edizione per nulla curata, anzi proprio trascurata. I personaggi sono per lo più abbozzati, non arrivo a definirli piatti e bidimensionali ma per essere aderente al vero devo riconoscere che si tratta di figure in bassorilievo. E allora, che cosa rimane per cui entusiasmarsi?
Rimane che questo bassorilievo, pur con tutti i suoi difetti, ha il fascino e l'eleganza di un bassorilievo etrusco; ha la piacevolezza e l'incedere delle fiabe antiche, raccontate in termini semplici e per questo universali. Il concetto di anti-eroe o la complessità di certe psicologie sono galassie lontane anni-luce, qui siamo ancora in quel mondo che vuole che gli eroi siano tutti giovani e belli. Ancor meglio, ancor di più, qui tutti i personaggi sono giovani e belli: il principale antagonista è bello e affascinante, ma l'eroe protagonista lo è ancora di più: biondissimo, bellissimo come Apollo, romanticissimo, perfettissimo, coerentissimo e infallibilissimo. L'amica della protagonista è molto bella, ma la protagonista è La Più Bella in assoluto, un angelo in confronto a lei sembrerebbe un ente vagamente diabolico. Anche l'epoca in sé: qui si descrive un diciottesimo secolo assolutamente idealizzato e cristallizzato più nelle sue bellezze e atmosfere che non nei suoi difetti, per non parlare del romanticismo delle ambientazioni in Spagna e poi tra i Pirenei con l'antico maniero di Caylus. In un altro momento e/o in un altro contesto, tutta questa sovrabbondanza di bellezza mi sarebbe risultata indigesta, ma qui è stata messa giù con la doverosa sincerità e semplicità e alla fine di tutto, il risultato è la sensazione di un abbraccio gentile da parte dell'autore nei confronti del lettore, e il cielo sa se non sia questo lo scopo ultimo di una bella favola (nonché feuilleton).
Prettamente ottocentesco è l'amore tra i due protagonisti: dapprima timoroso, poi tormentato, rimescolato, teatrale, ovviamente totalizzante, ma sa essere a suo modo coinvolgente e commovente.
Questa volta l'esperimento è egregiamente riuscito: un film piacevole ha dato lo spunto per una lettura che si è rivelata molto più ricca, molto più ampia, molto più complessa, molto più tutto. Quindi, per coloro che hanno visto il film, il libro è consigliatissimo così come per tutti gli altri, perché vi si troverà tutt'un altro film. Scordatevi Daniel Auteuil e compagnia (di tutto il cast, l'unico riutilizzabile nel libro sarebbe forse Vicent Pérez); scordatevi anche la trama del film, perché dal libro sono stati presi solo alcuni passaggi e alcune idee che sono poi stati "rimontati" secondo uno schema molto molto differente.
"La media matematica degli innegabili difetti del libro con il piacere della lettura e con il buon esito dell'esperimento dalla celluloide alla carta, forse non consente di arrivare a cinque stelle piene piene ma quattro e mezza non gliele toglie nessuno": così, politically correct, dicevano fin verso la metà del libro i miei trigliceridi, già appagati dalla scena della dichiarazione d'amore. Ma non avevano ancora visto tutto: da un certo momento in poi è iniziata una raffica di scene epiche, a mo' di esempio citerò soltanto quella in cui il Bel Lagardère sconfigge un supposto rivale in amore in un duello, non all'ultimo colpo di spada bensì all'ultimo bicchiere di champagne (in pratica una gara a chi regge meglio l'alcool: perché nel film ci hanno privato di questa scena, eh? Perché?), e poi il colpo d'astuzia che ne consegue, insomma da quel momento in poi ho ancor più trovato una lettura degna delle migliori trovate di Dumas, e che dire del finale dalla pura ambientazione gotica, e allora al diavolo la media matematica, vada per le cinque stelle e mi sa che il film non lo vedrò più, aspetterò qualche mese e poi se ce ne sarà bisogno mi concederò il lusso di una rilettura.
March 2, 2020
Novelón de capa y espada con el que me lo he pasado pipa, era como estar en una película clásica. Seguro que no está al nivel de Dumas, pero da lo que yo creo uno espera de este tipo de libros: intrigas, duelos a espada, amor, misterios, juramentos que cumplir... Además, he estado viendo la serie de TVE al mismo tiempo. Recuerdo que mi padre me hablaba de ella (además de otras adaptaciones de obras más conocidas para mí, como "El conde de Montecristo" o "Los tres mosqueteros"), y tenía cierto pique por saber de qué iba esta historia, así que por fin he descubierto qué era eso de "El jorobado" que él me contaba. He disfrutado con la adaptación, a pesar del regusto teatral que tiene y, quizá, precisamente por ello, como si no le pegara otra manera de poner en imágenes una novela así. Reparto de lujo (guapérrimo Víctor Valverde, eso me lo decía mi madre y aún me lo dice), con actores muy conocidos, incluso en el mundo del doblaje (José Guardiola, Javier Dotú).
March 17, 2014
Alaturi de Cei trei Muschetari, Cocosatul lui Paul Feval este una dintre cele mai apreciate romane de capa si spada.
In copilarie eram innebunit dupa astfel de romane.
Zevaco, Dumas tatal, Dumas fiul, Sabatini, Leroux, Montepin, Walter Scott, Gautier, Paul Feval erau autorii pe care-i devoram si pe ale caror aventuri si personaje le copiam si le repuneam in scena cu ajutorul unor paturi sau esarfe puse pe umeri, o palarie pleostita de la bunicul meu cu o pana de paun si o sabie de plastic de care eram foarte mandru.
Biblioteca mea de acasa este plina cu romanele acestora, nu o data le-am recitit, de fiecare data cu aceeasi placere.
Cocosatul lui Paul Feval imi aduc aminte ca mi-a placut foarte mult, detronand muschetarii lui Dumas. Cred ca a fost primul roman care era construit putin mai altfel decat eram eu obisnuit. Un ritm alert, in genul thriller modern, plin de rasturnari de situatii alaturi de incaierari in care spadele se incrucisau cu virtuozitate.
Din pacate acest gen de literatura este disparut si ma bucur enorm ca am reusit sa prind valul romanelor de capa si spada si ca pustanul care eram s-a putut bucura de cavaleri si spadasini neinfricati. Probabil ca datorita acestor romane m-am si indragostit de istorie si de literatura.
Nici nu va puteti inchipui cat de fericit sunt ca acest site imi ofera posibilitatea de a-mi reaminti cartile pe care le-am citit in scoala generala... Evocarea trairilor unui pustan a carei imaginatie fugea pe strazile intortocheate din Paris sau Londra, crezandu-se D'Artagnan, Pardaillan, Ascanio sau Lagardere este de nepretuit...
In copilarie eram innebunit dupa astfel de romane.
Zevaco, Dumas tatal, Dumas fiul, Sabatini, Leroux, Montepin, Walter Scott, Gautier, Paul Feval erau autorii pe care-i devoram si pe ale caror aventuri si personaje le copiam si le repuneam in scena cu ajutorul unor paturi sau esarfe puse pe umeri, o palarie pleostita de la bunicul meu cu o pana de paun si o sabie de plastic de care eram foarte mandru.
Biblioteca mea de acasa este plina cu romanele acestora, nu o data le-am recitit, de fiecare data cu aceeasi placere.
Cocosatul lui Paul Feval imi aduc aminte ca mi-a placut foarte mult, detronand muschetarii lui Dumas. Cred ca a fost primul roman care era construit putin mai altfel decat eram eu obisnuit. Un ritm alert, in genul thriller modern, plin de rasturnari de situatii alaturi de incaierari in care spadele se incrucisau cu virtuozitate.
Din pacate acest gen de literatura este disparut si ma bucur enorm ca am reusit sa prind valul romanelor de capa si spada si ca pustanul care eram s-a putut bucura de cavaleri si spadasini neinfricati. Probabil ca datorita acestor romane m-am si indragostit de istorie si de literatura.
Nici nu va puteti inchipui cat de fericit sunt ca acest site imi ofera posibilitatea de a-mi reaminti cartile pe care le-am citit in scoala generala... Evocarea trairilor unui pustan a carei imaginatie fugea pe strazile intortocheate din Paris sau Londra, crezandu-se D'Artagnan, Pardaillan, Ascanio sau Lagardere este de nepretuit...
December 14, 2023
Affectionately dedicated to Ana Petis de Elena, María Elena Venant and my sister Maggie Sendra.
Ladies and gentlemen, this was the surprise that a humble servant had prepared for you. Today I had intended to write two reviews but, unfortunately, the time I have been in @youtube has made it impossible for me to write the review of "The Shadow of the Sacristan" by ECR Lorac. A very interesting novel that will give us something to talk about. I wanted to thank my friends Ana Estelwen and María Elena Venant (I would recommend this novel to my friend Jaime Blanch) for generating an interesting debate to my previous review "The Search for Malefistro" by Erik S. Meretzki https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9... https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... (see the review of "The Search for Malefistro"). I must be honest, I expected to write a review that was a little better than the one I wrote. Funnier and a little more controversial. But I think that the theological debate about whether you can save yourself after selling your soul to the Devil will greatly enrich my critique in @goodreads that, if Providence is propitious, I will write tomorrow and, if I may, I will dedicate it to my two friends. I don't think my review will be as successful as it was in @facebook but, I guess, it will give me some likes. I would also like to thank my sister @maggiesendra for her contributions on Cain and vampire literature of which I declared myself a great admirer. Even if I don't really like Bram Stoker's "Dracula" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3... (although a humble servant recommends Leslie S. Klinger's edition, which is similar to J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Annotated Hobbit" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5.... By the way, one day I'll have to write a review of the Hobbit I can't pretend to be part of J.R.R. Tolkien's Spanish Catholic Society @diegoblancoalbarova https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... (whose books are highly recommended) and then do nothing). There are also plans to write a review of Mary Renault's "The Persian Boy" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6... which will be very controversial and will bring a tail. I think it's time to introduce you to this book and, to this writer who is not unknown in my account @instagram already, that here was written a review of one of his books "White Wolf" https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... that I liked very much. This novel is set a few decades before "White Wolf" and the subject matter is different. This is a novel that takes place in the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries. In the final years of Louis XIV, before the Peace of Ryswick (1697) (on this subject he left you with my fellow historian Alberto Bravo Martín), and, in the childhood of Louis XV, in the regency of his uncle Philippe d'Orléans, a character for whom my sister has a weakness. This novel could be pigeonholed in the category of period novel and, cloak and dagger (this edition has been chosen, which is the one I have at home, but it is inaccessible to me due to the furniture I have in my room, which prevents me from picking it up without disassembling the furniture. Another reason why this edition was chosen was because of the wonderful epilogue breaking down the work written by the Spanish poet Luis Alberto de Cuenca https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... whose books he encouraged to read. Although I liked his facet more as a literary and film critic. Much of what is going to be told about Paul Feval comes from that foreword.) "Le Bossu" by Paul Feval Sr. (this author has a son who is also a novelist https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... ) this novel is also known as "Henri de Lagardere" or, the little Parisian nickname given to him by the two companions, the swordsmen, the Gascon Cocarsasse and the Norman Passepoil. This novel belongs to the genre of Cloak and, sword perhaps the initiator of this type of novels is "The Chouans" by Honoré Balzac https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2... (very boring), but the one who puts the cape on it is Alfred de Vigny (whom my followers will already know from my reviews of "Dafne Adeanis" and "Chaterton" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... which I disliked so much) is more interesting his novel "Cinq Mars" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... which undoubtedly inspired that sinister image of the even admired Cardinal Richelieu and that Alexandre Dumas immortalized in "The Three Musketeers" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7... (to whom Arturo Pérez-Reverte owes so much https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... ) . De Vigny put the cape on it and, the sword would be put on by a very curious writer who, who felt very influenced by our country and, very dear to the Empress Eugenia de Montijo we refer to Prosper Merimee, the novel that was decisive for the sword was "The Chronicle of the Reign of Charles IX'" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... that inspired the Wars of Religion trilogy and, the Huguenot sympathies of Alexandre Dumas in his trilogy whose most famous volume was that of "Queen Margot" https://www.goodreads.com/series/5513.... What can be said about Paul Feval is that he was a Breton, a lover of his land, and a defender of lost causes (he became famous for his defense of Charles X expelled by the Revolution of 1830) (which makes it worthwhile because as G.K. Chesterton said https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... "You are never closer to Paradise than when you win a battle you thought you were lost". In spite of everything, at first he was not religious and had a very impious publisher named Dentu, but thanks (surprisingly) to his psychiatrist (in the end he married the daughter of his psychiatrist Marie Penoyee) and the Jesuits, he returned to the Catholic faith He wrote the story of his conversion https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3... which, in the words of his friend Barbey D'Aurevilly, should be in a golden box on an altar. It's not the only thing Paul Feval has in common with Barbey D'Aurevilly https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... there are many similarities between Paul Feval's novels and, the novels of the author of "The Diabolicals" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... , "The Married Priest" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7... i, "The Bewitched" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3... , and "The Chevalier de Touches" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... I suppose, because there is not so much difference between the Bretons and the Normans, both very Catholic and telling stories of nobles full of strength and tumult. Without detracting from Barbey D'Aurevilly, Paul Feval must be considered a pioneer of detective novels, espionage novels, and fantasy novels. Which makes him more than just a Catholic imitation of Alexandre Dumas. The Mist brothers https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7... 20 one gets the money and the others the blood. He pioneered the vampire novel with The Vampire City, a satire of Ann Radcliffe's novels https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... but, now more romantic, is "The Vampire Woman" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2... where it tells the romance between a human and a vampire woman who in the end takes pity on her victim out of love. He was a pioneer in the espionage novel and created some novels with a certain air of Rocambole from Poison Du Terrail https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... called The Black Habits https://www.goodreads.com/series/7024... where he talks about a criminal organization. He tried to rival Eugene Sue's "The Mysteries of Paris" (the Dan Brown of the https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... era) https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6... by writing "The Mysteries of London" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... , but unlike Sue she refused to include social engineering and socialist propaganda in her novels. In words, "he didn't want to use fairy tales to talk about social miseries" (which is to his credit), so unlike Rodolphe, the Marquis of Rio Santo does not fight against social injustices, but against the English, since he is Irish. I tried to read "The Mysteries of London" in this case as much as I liked it and, I like Paul Feval I must say that I was so bored that I couldn't finish it. It was very heavy. Maybe one day I'll give him a second chance. That's not to say that Paul Feval didn't deal with controversial topics. In some novels he is critical of the death penalty. He had a controversy with Alexandre Dumas already, that Paul Feval was opposed to divorce. I had a theory years ago that Paul Feval could have been a ghostwriter of Alexandre Dumas https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... or, at least, that he was trained in his school (I use the English expression and not the Spanish one because it can be subject to censorship). It has been rumored that Alexandre Dumas did not write his works. In some of them he shared authorship with Jules Maquet https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... and there is no narrative coherence. In some he defends the Huguenots and, in others, he almost defends the divine right of kings, such as "Twenty Years Later", which proves that he could have been someone like Rubens and have apprentices. "Twenty Years Later" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7... seemed so Catholic, especially the part about Charles I, which almost seemed to me to have been written by Paul Feval. But, they were crazy theories of mine. This novel was intended to emulate the success of the Three Musketeers trilogy and, in my opinion, it succeeds. The idea, and here I take Luis Alberto de Cuenca at his word, was to create such a brave hero as D'Artagnan https://www.goodreads.com/series/5513... , as mysterious as Edmond Dantes "The Count of Monte Cristo" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7... and, as generous as the Rodolphe of Eugene Sue's "The Mysteries of Paris" (the Dan Brown of the time author of the nonsensical "The Wandering Jew" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7... which was an anti-Jesuit pamphlet. He found a precedent in Stendhal https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... "Red and Black" and, which opens the garbage path of Ayala's "AMDG" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3... in the vomitous line of Diderot's "Religious" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... , "The Monk" by M. G. Lewis https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9... literature written by Protestants, members of secret societies, revolutionaries, and philo-Jansenists. Dumas does not hesitate to show the Company with the blackest textures, especially Aramis). The problem is that many people believed that propaganda despite having defenders such as Alphonse Lamartine https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... (my father said that one of the reasons why he named me after this French writer), "El escándalo" by Pedro Antonio de Alarcón https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... (a marvel that I recommend) or writers such as Luis Coloma https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... or, Father Lamet https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... or, Leonardo Castellani himself when he was a member of the Company https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... . Feval himself did what he could. It will be very difficult to find a swordsman as good as Lagardere (in the prologue of the Three Musketeers published in Cátedra it was insisted that Lagardere was a copy of D'Artagnan) but, I think that Enrique de Lagardere has a charm and a personality of his own. Although at the beginning the story does not begin with him but with the Caylus family and the villain (one of the best I have seen) Felipe Gonzaga at the level of the typical Italian villains of the time such as Dumas' Mazarin or Michel de Zevaco's Concino Concini creator of Pardaillan https://www.goodreads.com/series/7851... Luis Alberto de Cuenca liked him very much, but his novels are more comic than anything else. Above all, the pope Fausta who looks like something out of a Japanese https://www.goodreads.com/genres/anime anime. In any case, one of the merits of the work is the villain Felipe Gonzaga, a brilliant, handsome, rich, and devious man who makes us believe that he is a friend of Philip of Orleans, and of Philip of Nevers from whom he seeks to keep the inheritance. This family existed and, unlike the Mediccis were not one of the worst families of the Renaissance, giving Saints such as St. Aloysius Gonzaga were Dukes of Mantua and, they went from being philo-Spanish to pro-French, see "La Roma Española" by Dandelet. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... When I read the novel I thought Gonzaga sounded like he was a Japanese ;-). This novel has a bit in common with "Mrs. Cornelia" " https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... since Aurora de Caylus does the same subterfuge that Doña Cornelia does with the Spaniards. His father, the Baron of Caylus, is described with a fine sense of humor, and Gonzaga's tricks to ingratiate himself with him are admirable, like letting himself win at chess. To keep an eye on his daughter because Gonzaga knows, or suspects, a secret of his friend Philip of Nevers. At the moment, the action he plans is almost more a crime crime than a historical novel. He has tried to poison Philip of Nevers with such mastery that, due to Nevers' excesses, his entourage thinks that the effects of the poisoning are the product of Philip of Nevers' disordered habits, since he shares vices with the future regent. On paper, the most sensible of the three friends is Felipe Gonzaga. It is curious the great erudition and knowledge that Paul Feval has of Greco-Latin mythology and, the French authors although in my opinion he greatly overestimates the talent of Pierre Corneille https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... . When the factotum, Felipe Gonzaga's second-in-command, tries to convince the braves, or swordsmen, to kill Felipe Nevers. First Peyrolles (another great villain, but without Gonzaga's physical attractiveness) tries to convince them to kill someone, but he doesn't tell them who (it will be seen that the poison doesn't work) and, Lagardere's two allies Passepoil and Cocardasse will get the truth out of him and more money. The cynic of Peyrolles failed to convince them that Philip of Nevers and Philip Gonzaga were like Pythias and Damon and Damon and Damon told him that Pythias would never murder Damon nor Orestes would kill Pylades. The Hitmen are very well described: Pepe, Pinto, Saldaña, Faenza, Staupitz, Joel, Cocardasse, and Passepoil. From there, Passepoil and Cocardasse tell us about Enrique Lagardere's past and the affection they have for him. Although he is a knight by merit on the battlefield (it is still the time of the Touraine, Luvois, Vauban, Vendome and those great French soldiers). There is talk of Eugene of Savoy, the Marshal of Luxembourg. It is a time when France could reach half a million men. It was the most populous country in Europe with 27 million men, and Europe could hardly stand up to it. At that time Louis XIV was planning to bring the Gallic frontier to the Rhine. It will be very interesting from the austere France of the end of Louis XIV to the dissolute and frivolous France of the Regency that after the War of the Spanish Succession lost its primacy to England and, the Seven Years' War will confirm the situation of the Peace of Utrecht and Rastatt which, will remain until the Second World War. Contrary to what one might think, Lagardere is an orphaned and poor boy who takes care of an older woman and, to whom Cocardasse and Passepoil offer to give him fencing lessons and, once that older woman dies, he accepts. He teaches a lesson to a boy who makes fun of him and soon to his teachers, and emancipates himself from them by maintaining friendship. At that moment Lagardere appears and, that his intention is to challenge the Duke of Nevers if, Passepoil had been silent and Cocardasse would only have had to wait for Lagardere to defeat the Duke of Nevers and, Felipe Gonzaga would not have had to stain his hands with blood with this crime. however, killing the Duke of Nevers is not going to be so easy because he masters a thrust that makes him Invincible, the famous thrust of Nevers that seems to come out of "The Princess Bride" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2... It is to be commended that Paul Feval, who took fencing lessons, but when he came back forgot his lessons, was able to write such believable, realistic and good combat scenes. This certainly increases his merits and the quality of his work. What makes Lagardere side with Nevers is that so many men try to kill Nevers, although with such a deadly thrust it is the poor murderers who give me the most grief. In this novel there are three sword duels. The best being the first. Where Nevers and Lagardere (the latter already with the bulk of a charming little person) finally
Ladies and gentlemen, this was the surprise that a humble servant had prepared for you. Today I had intended to write two reviews but, unfortunately, the time I have been in @youtube has made it impossible for me to write the review of "The Shadow of the Sacristan" by ECR Lorac. A very interesting novel that will give us something to talk about. I wanted to thank my friends Ana Estelwen and María Elena Venant (I would recommend this novel to my friend Jaime Blanch) for generating an interesting debate to my previous review "The Search for Malefistro" by Erik S. Meretzki https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9... https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... (see the review of "The Search for Malefistro"). I must be honest, I expected to write a review that was a little better than the one I wrote. Funnier and a little more controversial. But I think that the theological debate about whether you can save yourself after selling your soul to the Devil will greatly enrich my critique in @goodreads that, if Providence is propitious, I will write tomorrow and, if I may, I will dedicate it to my two friends. I don't think my review will be as successful as it was in @facebook but, I guess, it will give me some likes. I would also like to thank my sister @maggiesendra for her contributions on Cain and vampire literature of which I declared myself a great admirer. Even if I don't really like Bram Stoker's "Dracula" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3... (although a humble servant recommends Leslie S. Klinger's edition, which is similar to J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Annotated Hobbit" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5.... By the way, one day I'll have to write a review of the Hobbit I can't pretend to be part of J.R.R. Tolkien's Spanish Catholic Society @diegoblancoalbarova https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... (whose books are highly recommended) and then do nothing). There are also plans to write a review of Mary Renault's "The Persian Boy" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6... which will be very controversial and will bring a tail. I think it's time to introduce you to this book and, to this writer who is not unknown in my account @instagram already, that here was written a review of one of his books "White Wolf" https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... that I liked very much. This novel is set a few decades before "White Wolf" and the subject matter is different. This is a novel that takes place in the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries. In the final years of Louis XIV, before the Peace of Ryswick (1697) (on this subject he left you with my fellow historian Alberto Bravo Martín), and, in the childhood of Louis XV, in the regency of his uncle Philippe d'Orléans, a character for whom my sister has a weakness. This novel could be pigeonholed in the category of period novel and, cloak and dagger (this edition has been chosen, which is the one I have at home, but it is inaccessible to me due to the furniture I have in my room, which prevents me from picking it up without disassembling the furniture. Another reason why this edition was chosen was because of the wonderful epilogue breaking down the work written by the Spanish poet Luis Alberto de Cuenca https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... whose books he encouraged to read. Although I liked his facet more as a literary and film critic. Much of what is going to be told about Paul Feval comes from that foreword.) "Le Bossu" by Paul Feval Sr. (this author has a son who is also a novelist https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... ) this novel is also known as "Henri de Lagardere" or, the little Parisian nickname given to him by the two companions, the swordsmen, the Gascon Cocarsasse and the Norman Passepoil. This novel belongs to the genre of Cloak and, sword perhaps the initiator of this type of novels is "The Chouans" by Honoré Balzac https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2... (very boring), but the one who puts the cape on it is Alfred de Vigny (whom my followers will already know from my reviews of "Dafne Adeanis" and "Chaterton" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... which I disliked so much) is more interesting his novel "Cinq Mars" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... which undoubtedly inspired that sinister image of the even admired Cardinal Richelieu and that Alexandre Dumas immortalized in "The Three Musketeers" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7... (to whom Arturo Pérez-Reverte owes so much https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... ) . De Vigny put the cape on it and, the sword would be put on by a very curious writer who, who felt very influenced by our country and, very dear to the Empress Eugenia de Montijo we refer to Prosper Merimee, the novel that was decisive for the sword was "The Chronicle of the Reign of Charles IX'" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... that inspired the Wars of Religion trilogy and, the Huguenot sympathies of Alexandre Dumas in his trilogy whose most famous volume was that of "Queen Margot" https://www.goodreads.com/series/5513.... What can be said about Paul Feval is that he was a Breton, a lover of his land, and a defender of lost causes (he became famous for his defense of Charles X expelled by the Revolution of 1830) (which makes it worthwhile because as G.K. Chesterton said https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... "You are never closer to Paradise than when you win a battle you thought you were lost". In spite of everything, at first he was not religious and had a very impious publisher named Dentu, but thanks (surprisingly) to his psychiatrist (in the end he married the daughter of his psychiatrist Marie Penoyee) and the Jesuits, he returned to the Catholic faith He wrote the story of his conversion https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3... which, in the words of his friend Barbey D'Aurevilly, should be in a golden box on an altar. It's not the only thing Paul Feval has in common with Barbey D'Aurevilly https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... there are many similarities between Paul Feval's novels and, the novels of the author of "The Diabolicals" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... , "The Married Priest" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7... i, "The Bewitched" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3... , and "The Chevalier de Touches" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... I suppose, because there is not so much difference between the Bretons and the Normans, both very Catholic and telling stories of nobles full of strength and tumult. Without detracting from Barbey D'Aurevilly, Paul Feval must be considered a pioneer of detective novels, espionage novels, and fantasy novels. Which makes him more than just a Catholic imitation of Alexandre Dumas. The Mist brothers https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7... 20 one gets the money and the others the blood. He pioneered the vampire novel with The Vampire City, a satire of Ann Radcliffe's novels https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... but, now more romantic, is "The Vampire Woman" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2... where it tells the romance between a human and a vampire woman who in the end takes pity on her victim out of love. He was a pioneer in the espionage novel and created some novels with a certain air of Rocambole from Poison Du Terrail https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... called The Black Habits https://www.goodreads.com/series/7024... where he talks about a criminal organization. He tried to rival Eugene Sue's "The Mysteries of Paris" (the Dan Brown of the https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... era) https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6... by writing "The Mysteries of London" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... , but unlike Sue she refused to include social engineering and socialist propaganda in her novels. In words, "he didn't want to use fairy tales to talk about social miseries" (which is to his credit), so unlike Rodolphe, the Marquis of Rio Santo does not fight against social injustices, but against the English, since he is Irish. I tried to read "The Mysteries of London" in this case as much as I liked it and, I like Paul Feval I must say that I was so bored that I couldn't finish it. It was very heavy. Maybe one day I'll give him a second chance. That's not to say that Paul Feval didn't deal with controversial topics. In some novels he is critical of the death penalty. He had a controversy with Alexandre Dumas already, that Paul Feval was opposed to divorce. I had a theory years ago that Paul Feval could have been a ghostwriter of Alexandre Dumas https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... or, at least, that he was trained in his school (I use the English expression and not the Spanish one because it can be subject to censorship). It has been rumored that Alexandre Dumas did not write his works. In some of them he shared authorship with Jules Maquet https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... and there is no narrative coherence. In some he defends the Huguenots and, in others, he almost defends the divine right of kings, such as "Twenty Years Later", which proves that he could have been someone like Rubens and have apprentices. "Twenty Years Later" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7... seemed so Catholic, especially the part about Charles I, which almost seemed to me to have been written by Paul Feval. But, they were crazy theories of mine. This novel was intended to emulate the success of the Three Musketeers trilogy and, in my opinion, it succeeds. The idea, and here I take Luis Alberto de Cuenca at his word, was to create such a brave hero as D'Artagnan https://www.goodreads.com/series/5513... , as mysterious as Edmond Dantes "The Count of Monte Cristo" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7... and, as generous as the Rodolphe of Eugene Sue's "The Mysteries of Paris" (the Dan Brown of the time author of the nonsensical "The Wandering Jew" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7... which was an anti-Jesuit pamphlet. He found a precedent in Stendhal https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... "Red and Black" and, which opens the garbage path of Ayala's "AMDG" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3... in the vomitous line of Diderot's "Religious" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... , "The Monk" by M. G. Lewis https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9... literature written by Protestants, members of secret societies, revolutionaries, and philo-Jansenists. Dumas does not hesitate to show the Company with the blackest textures, especially Aramis). The problem is that many people believed that propaganda despite having defenders such as Alphonse Lamartine https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... (my father said that one of the reasons why he named me after this French writer), "El escándalo" by Pedro Antonio de Alarcón https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... (a marvel that I recommend) or writers such as Luis Coloma https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... or, Father Lamet https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... or, Leonardo Castellani himself when he was a member of the Company https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... . Feval himself did what he could. It will be very difficult to find a swordsman as good as Lagardere (in the prologue of the Three Musketeers published in Cátedra it was insisted that Lagardere was a copy of D'Artagnan) but, I think that Enrique de Lagardere has a charm and a personality of his own. Although at the beginning the story does not begin with him but with the Caylus family and the villain (one of the best I have seen) Felipe Gonzaga at the level of the typical Italian villains of the time such as Dumas' Mazarin or Michel de Zevaco's Concino Concini creator of Pardaillan https://www.goodreads.com/series/7851... Luis Alberto de Cuenca liked him very much, but his novels are more comic than anything else. Above all, the pope Fausta who looks like something out of a Japanese https://www.goodreads.com/genres/anime anime. In any case, one of the merits of the work is the villain Felipe Gonzaga, a brilliant, handsome, rich, and devious man who makes us believe that he is a friend of Philip of Orleans, and of Philip of Nevers from whom he seeks to keep the inheritance. This family existed and, unlike the Mediccis were not one of the worst families of the Renaissance, giving Saints such as St. Aloysius Gonzaga were Dukes of Mantua and, they went from being philo-Spanish to pro-French, see "La Roma Española" by Dandelet. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... When I read the novel I thought Gonzaga sounded like he was a Japanese ;-). This novel has a bit in common with "Mrs. Cornelia" " https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1... since Aurora de Caylus does the same subterfuge that Doña Cornelia does with the Spaniards. His father, the Baron of Caylus, is described with a fine sense of humor, and Gonzaga's tricks to ingratiate himself with him are admirable, like letting himself win at chess. To keep an eye on his daughter because Gonzaga knows, or suspects, a secret of his friend Philip of Nevers. At the moment, the action he plans is almost more a crime crime than a historical novel. He has tried to poison Philip of Nevers with such mastery that, due to Nevers' excesses, his entourage thinks that the effects of the poisoning are the product of Philip of Nevers' disordered habits, since he shares vices with the future regent. On paper, the most sensible of the three friends is Felipe Gonzaga. It is curious the great erudition and knowledge that Paul Feval has of Greco-Latin mythology and, the French authors although in my opinion he greatly overestimates the talent of Pierre Corneille https://www.goodreads.com/author/show... . When the factotum, Felipe Gonzaga's second-in-command, tries to convince the braves, or swordsmen, to kill Felipe Nevers. First Peyrolles (another great villain, but without Gonzaga's physical attractiveness) tries to convince them to kill someone, but he doesn't tell them who (it will be seen that the poison doesn't work) and, Lagardere's two allies Passepoil and Cocardasse will get the truth out of him and more money. The cynic of Peyrolles failed to convince them that Philip of Nevers and Philip Gonzaga were like Pythias and Damon and Damon and Damon told him that Pythias would never murder Damon nor Orestes would kill Pylades. The Hitmen are very well described: Pepe, Pinto, Saldaña, Faenza, Staupitz, Joel, Cocardasse, and Passepoil. From there, Passepoil and Cocardasse tell us about Enrique Lagardere's past and the affection they have for him. Although he is a knight by merit on the battlefield (it is still the time of the Touraine, Luvois, Vauban, Vendome and those great French soldiers). There is talk of Eugene of Savoy, the Marshal of Luxembourg. It is a time when France could reach half a million men. It was the most populous country in Europe with 27 million men, and Europe could hardly stand up to it. At that time Louis XIV was planning to bring the Gallic frontier to the Rhine. It will be very interesting from the austere France of the end of Louis XIV to the dissolute and frivolous France of the Regency that after the War of the Spanish Succession lost its primacy to England and, the Seven Years' War will confirm the situation of the Peace of Utrecht and Rastatt which, will remain until the Second World War. Contrary to what one might think, Lagardere is an orphaned and poor boy who takes care of an older woman and, to whom Cocardasse and Passepoil offer to give him fencing lessons and, once that older woman dies, he accepts. He teaches a lesson to a boy who makes fun of him and soon to his teachers, and emancipates himself from them by maintaining friendship. At that moment Lagardere appears and, that his intention is to challenge the Duke of Nevers if, Passepoil had been silent and Cocardasse would only have had to wait for Lagardere to defeat the Duke of Nevers and, Felipe Gonzaga would not have had to stain his hands with blood with this crime. however, killing the Duke of Nevers is not going to be so easy because he masters a thrust that makes him Invincible, the famous thrust of Nevers that seems to come out of "The Princess Bride" https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2... It is to be commended that Paul Feval, who took fencing lessons, but when he came back forgot his lessons, was able to write such believable, realistic and good combat scenes. This certainly increases his merits and the quality of his work. What makes Lagardere side with Nevers is that so many men try to kill Nevers, although with such a deadly thrust it is the poor murderers who give me the most grief. In this novel there are three sword duels. The best being the first. Where Nevers and Lagardere (the latter already with the bulk of a charming little person) finally
August 5, 2013
An exceptional read! None of the numerous movies made after it have managed to do it justice and capture its essence. A story about loyalty, honor, love, friendship, deceit and betrayal. Drama, romance, action, an amazing plot with a more than just and symbolic ending!
December 18, 2022
Before telenovelas were invented, people were reading feuilleton. Although the first category is mainly addressed at women, both types of media provide entertainment for the masses, through tropes that are easy to understand and have that engaging factor that people of a certain education prefer - lots of action, a little bit of romance, poor vs. rich conflict, justice/ revenge seeking. Féval, Dumas and other authors of the era knew exactly which buttons to push in order to appeal to a large audience and keep them entertained.
I was never a fan of novels "de cape et d’épée"; my relationship to the genre stopped at "The Three Musketeers", which I remember liking, but I'm pretty sure most of my memories of the story come from the movies rather than from the book. Féval was never really on my radar and the only reason I have read "Le Bossu" now is because of a challenge.
I don't know how I would have perceived the novel had I read it when I was a teenager, but my main opinion now is that it did not age well. As much as I can appreciate what it did for its era, I cannot place it at the same level with other authors who wrote around the same time and whose works are still relevant today. I won't go as far as to say the plot and characters are formulaic, because, at the time they were written, they were not; but thankfully literature has evolved and writers learned how to... well, write.
The plot here is pretty much straight forward, predictable, with barely a twist. Féval's characters are cardboard cutouts, empty shells with one or two traits each, to make them discernible. Although I was entertained by the Cocardasse-Passepoil couple, their only role is to the the comic relief; but at least they (and, to some extent, Flor) are recognizable, without even being the heroes of the story. All the while, the hero himself is bland, with no rootable factor, and Aurore disappears just as easily as she appears, one of the least memorable heroines I have encountered. For a book that is mainly based on interior monologues, character development is poor to non-existent and we are told (repeatedly) rather than shown what the characters are like.
This book would have bored me to death (and it put me to sleep a few times) had it not been for the occasional humor, mostly provided by the afore-mentioned couple, and for the "love" story - unfortunately, not for the reasons you'd think. For a novel that is supposed to be action-driven, there's little action to speak of. I would have expected that a story about a swordsman were filled with (or at least had some) fighting/ dueling scenes; there are, but they are brushed over so fast, that the reader has no idea what/ how it happened, except for "he suddenly appeared and three people fell to the ground slashed". It bares no comparison to the detailed fight scenes we see nowadays from the likes of Joe Abercrombie, Mark Lawrence and others - but maybe the comparison is unfair. What we do get, in detail, are the descriptions of streets, buildings, corridors, clothes, and multiple endless monologues speaking of nothing at all or repeating the same things over and over again, with little effect on character construction, unfortunately. If monologues are employed, they at least should be used to build backstories, traits, motivations.
Going back to the love story, this is my main pain point. I can understand that, for the era, the relationship between Lagardère and Aurore might have been seen as romantic. But today it is just creepy This sounds a lot like grooming and just no, nope, creepy.
So I guess the only things I somewhat enjoyed about "Le Bossu" are the humor and the historical part. At least Féval took it upon himself to explain the political and economical aspects of Regency France. It's a fair assumption to say I will probably never read this author again, no matter how many times my husband tries to convince me. I came, I tried, I noped.
I was never a fan of novels "de cape et d’épée"; my relationship to the genre stopped at "The Three Musketeers", which I remember liking, but I'm pretty sure most of my memories of the story come from the movies rather than from the book. Féval was never really on my radar and the only reason I have read "Le Bossu" now is because of a challenge.
I don't know how I would have perceived the novel had I read it when I was a teenager, but my main opinion now is that it did not age well. As much as I can appreciate what it did for its era, I cannot place it at the same level with other authors who wrote around the same time and whose works are still relevant today. I won't go as far as to say the plot and characters are formulaic, because, at the time they were written, they were not; but thankfully literature has evolved and writers learned how to... well, write.
The plot here is pretty much straight forward, predictable, with barely a twist. Féval's characters are cardboard cutouts, empty shells with one or two traits each, to make them discernible. Although I was entertained by the Cocardasse-Passepoil couple, their only role is to the the comic relief; but at least they (and, to some extent, Flor) are recognizable, without even being the heroes of the story. All the while, the hero himself is bland, with no rootable factor, and Aurore disappears just as easily as she appears, one of the least memorable heroines I have encountered. For a book that is mainly based on interior monologues, character development is poor to non-existent and we are told (repeatedly) rather than shown what the characters are like.
This book would have bored me to death (and it put me to sleep a few times) had it not been for the occasional humor, mostly provided by the afore-mentioned couple, and for the "love" story - unfortunately, not for the reasons you'd think. For a novel that is supposed to be action-driven, there's little action to speak of. I would have expected that a story about a swordsman were filled with (or at least had some) fighting/ dueling scenes; there are, but they are brushed over so fast, that the reader has no idea what/ how it happened, except for "he suddenly appeared and three people fell to the ground slashed". It bares no comparison to the detailed fight scenes we see nowadays from the likes of Joe Abercrombie, Mark Lawrence and others - but maybe the comparison is unfair. What we do get, in detail, are the descriptions of streets, buildings, corridors, clothes, and multiple endless monologues speaking of nothing at all or repeating the same things over and over again, with little effect on character construction, unfortunately. If monologues are employed, they at least should be used to build backstories, traits, motivations.
Going back to the love story, this is my main pain point. I can understand that, for the era, the relationship between Lagardère and Aurore might have been seen as romantic. But today it is just creepy This sounds a lot like grooming and just no, nope, creepy.
So I guess the only things I somewhat enjoyed about "Le Bossu" are the humor and the historical part. At least Féval took it upon himself to explain the political and economical aspects of Regency France. It's a fair assumption to say I will probably never read this author again, no matter how many times my husband tries to convince me. I came, I tried, I noped.
November 15, 2018
FRANÇAIS: Ce roman du principal concurrent d'Alexandre Dumas dans le domaine du roman d'aventures du XIXe siècle devient un mélange de "Les Trois Mousquetaires" et "Le Comte de Monte-Cristo". Un grand épéiste, meilleur même que d'Artagnan, jure de venger le meurtre d'un rival devenu son ami, protèger sa fille et la ramèner à la place qui lui revient dans la société française de son temps (principes du règne de Louis XV).
À mon goût, le roman est trop lent, car il se perd dans des recherches inutiles et interrompt l'action pendant des dizaines de pages pour raconter d'autres choses. Il faut cependant se rappeler que c’est le roman typique en série du XIXe siècle et qu’il fallait faire quelque chose pour que l’action dure plus de 600 pages.
Certaines choses sont invraisemblables, comme l'amour entre le protagoniste et son pupille, qui est probablement psychologiquement impossible, car la petite fille s'était habituée à voir Lagardère comme son père.
ENGLISH: This novel by Alexandre Dumas's main competitor in the field of nineteenth-century adventure novel, is a mixture of "The Three Musketeers" and "The Count of Monte Cristo." A great swordsman, even better than D'Artagnan, swears to avenge the murder of a rival turned into his friend, protect his daughter and return her to her rightful place in the French society of the time (beginning of the reign of Louis XV).
For my taste, the novel is too slow, because it gets lost in unnecessary disquisitions and interrupts the action during dozens of pages, to tell other things. It must be borne in mind, however, that this is a typical nineteenth-century installment novel, and that something had to be done to ensure that the action lasted for more than 600 pages.
Some things are implausible, like the love between the protagonist and his ward, which probably is psychologically impossible, for the little girl was used to seeing Lagardère as her father.
ESPAÑOL: Esta novela del principal competidor de Alejandro Dumas en el campo de la novela de aventuras decimonónica, viene a ser una mezcla de "Los tres mosqueteros" y "El conde de Montecristo". Un gran espadachín, mejor incluso que D'Artagnan, jura vengar el asesinato de un rival convertido en su amigo, proteger a su hija y devolverla a su legítimo lugar en la sociedad francesa de su tiempo (principios del reinado de Luis XV).
Para mi gusto, la novela es demasiado lenta, pues se pierde en disquisiciones innecesarias e interrumpe la acción durante decenas de páginas para contar otras cosas. Hay que tener en cuenta, sin embargo, que es el típico folletín decimonónico, y que algo había que hacer para conseguir que la acción se prolongara durante más de 600 páginas.
Algunas cosas son inverosímiles, como los amores entre el protagonista y su pupila, que probablemente son psicológicamente imposibles, pues la niña se acostumbró desde pequeña a ver a Lagardère como si fuese su padre.
À mon goût, le roman est trop lent, car il se perd dans des recherches inutiles et interrompt l'action pendant des dizaines de pages pour raconter d'autres choses. Il faut cependant se rappeler que c’est le roman typique en série du XIXe siècle et qu’il fallait faire quelque chose pour que l’action dure plus de 600 pages.
Certaines choses sont invraisemblables, comme l'amour entre le protagoniste et son pupille, qui est probablement psychologiquement impossible, car la petite fille s'était habituée à voir Lagardère comme son père.
ENGLISH: This novel by Alexandre Dumas's main competitor in the field of nineteenth-century adventure novel, is a mixture of "The Three Musketeers" and "The Count of Monte Cristo." A great swordsman, even better than D'Artagnan, swears to avenge the murder of a rival turned into his friend, protect his daughter and return her to her rightful place in the French society of the time (beginning of the reign of Louis XV).
For my taste, the novel is too slow, because it gets lost in unnecessary disquisitions and interrupts the action during dozens of pages, to tell other things. It must be borne in mind, however, that this is a typical nineteenth-century installment novel, and that something had to be done to ensure that the action lasted for more than 600 pages.
Some things are implausible, like the love between the protagonist and his ward, which probably is psychologically impossible, for the little girl was used to seeing Lagardère as her father.
ESPAÑOL: Esta novela del principal competidor de Alejandro Dumas en el campo de la novela de aventuras decimonónica, viene a ser una mezcla de "Los tres mosqueteros" y "El conde de Montecristo". Un gran espadachín, mejor incluso que D'Artagnan, jura vengar el asesinato de un rival convertido en su amigo, proteger a su hija y devolverla a su legítimo lugar en la sociedad francesa de su tiempo (principios del reinado de Luis XV).
Para mi gusto, la novela es demasiado lenta, pues se pierde en disquisiciones innecesarias e interrumpe la acción durante decenas de páginas para contar otras cosas. Hay que tener en cuenta, sin embargo, que es el típico folletín decimonónico, y que algo había que hacer para conseguir que la acción se prolongara durante más de 600 páginas.
Algunas cosas son inverosímiles, como los amores entre el protagonista y su pupila, que probablemente son psicológicamente imposibles, pues la niña se acostumbró desde pequeña a ver a Lagardère como si fuese su padre.
March 12, 2021
De 10 ori 5
August 6, 2025
J’étais curieuse de découvrir l’œuvre originale, mais j’ai trouvé le style lourd. L’ensemble est très long, parfois laborieux, et on sent que c’est un feuilleton à l’origine et qu'il faut faire durer l'intrigue avec moult rebondissements. Une version abrégée aurait permis un meilleur rythme.
Au-delà de ça, ce qui m’a surtout dérangée, ce sont les relations sentimentales décrites dans l'histoire : certains passages sont franchement gênants, indépendamment du dénouement et les personnages masculins, malgré leurs comportements problématiques, sont quasiment tous présentés comme des héros.
Pour moi ce roman ne passe clairement pas l'épreuve du temps.
Au-delà de ça, ce qui m’a surtout dérangée, ce sont les relations sentimentales décrites dans l'histoire : certains passages sont franchement gênants, indépendamment du dénouement et les personnages masculins, malgré leurs comportements problématiques, sont quasiment tous présentés comme des héros.
Pour moi ce roman ne passe clairement pas l'épreuve du temps.
April 10, 2024
Not my thing, but the grooming is a big no-no...
October 29, 2013
This is an adventure novel from the golden age of swashbuckler literature (more commonly known in the french form of "roman de cape et d’épée"). It has the main elements of the genre, but also it is clear that Paul Feval was a gifted writer. He uses some literary techniques that are quite uncommon for other authors of the genre. Among them I mention flashback and inner voice of more than one characters.
Going to characters, I must admit that at least the main ones are quite well built. They are not cartoon-like, one sided characters and also show some development over time. Again this is prefacing the modernists.
As I picked it up for an easy read during other "more serious" novels, I must confess I am surprised of the multiple faucets it has. It also tries to approach a little bit with some general humanity major questions.
I am only awarding it 2 stars (it was ok) as I did not liked the predictability of the second half of the story and the length. It is bothering to read some useless descriptions and details for this genre. But all in all it was quite good.
Going to characters, I must admit that at least the main ones are quite well built. They are not cartoon-like, one sided characters and also show some development over time. Again this is prefacing the modernists.
As I picked it up for an easy read during other "more serious" novels, I must confess I am surprised of the multiple faucets it has. It also tries to approach a little bit with some general humanity major questions.
I am only awarding it 2 stars (it was ok) as I did not liked the predictability of the second half of the story and the length. It is bothering to read some useless descriptions and details for this genre. But all in all it was quite good.
December 30, 2024
Příběh rytíře Jindřicha, který zachrání dceru přítele a téměř po dvaceti letech ji chce vrátit její matce. Také chce vypátrat a pomstít vraha.
Tuto knihu jsem si vybrala jen díky dvěma výzvám – vylosovaná kniha z nepřečtených knih z mé knihovničky a také v rámci skupiny klasikomilů, kdy jsme četli francouzskou klasiku. Bohužel však tato kniha nebyla pro mě a dost jsem se u ní natrápila.
Podíváme se do Francie, kolem roku 1700, kdy dobro bojuje se zlem. Je tu dobrodružství i romantika. Podíváme se ke dvoru i k potulným cikánům. Je tu tajemství, hromada intrik, přetvářky i převleků. V příběhu je toho spousta, ale já prostě nejsem čtenář takovýchto knih, a i když jsem trošku doufala, že by si mě něčím mohla získat, nestalo se tak.
Některé pasáže mě i vcelku bavily, v jiných jsem se ztrácela, třeba ve jménech. Kniha je prověřena po desetiletí a staletí, chápu, že má své fanoušky.
Světlým momentem celé knihy byl pro mě výraz „Ať mne spere ďas!“, který mě neskutečně pobavil, zvlášť pro to, že se v knize vyskytuje opravdu, ale opravdu často. Mrzí mě, že jsem to nespočítala, ale znovu to kvůli tomu číst nebudu :-D
Tuto knihu jsem si vybrala jen díky dvěma výzvám – vylosovaná kniha z nepřečtených knih z mé knihovničky a také v rámci skupiny klasikomilů, kdy jsme četli francouzskou klasiku. Bohužel však tato kniha nebyla pro mě a dost jsem se u ní natrápila.
Podíváme se do Francie, kolem roku 1700, kdy dobro bojuje se zlem. Je tu dobrodružství i romantika. Podíváme se ke dvoru i k potulným cikánům. Je tu tajemství, hromada intrik, přetvářky i převleků. V příběhu je toho spousta, ale já prostě nejsem čtenář takovýchto knih, a i když jsem trošku doufala, že by si mě něčím mohla získat, nestalo se tak.
Některé pasáže mě i vcelku bavily, v jiných jsem se ztrácela, třeba ve jménech. Kniha je prověřena po desetiletí a staletí, chápu, že má své fanoušky.
Světlým momentem celé knihy byl pro mě výraz „Ať mne spere ďas!“, který mě neskutečně pobavil, zvlášť pro to, že se v knize vyskytuje opravdu, ale opravdu často. Mrzí mě, že jsem to nespočítala, ale znovu to kvůli tomu číst nebudu :-D
October 7, 2022
Beautiful story.
September 8, 2017
3,5-4 stars...
Jako nic proti, ale Edmond Dantés měl tu pomstu promyšlenější a propracovanější.
A nejvíce jsem si oblíbila Cocardesse a Passepoila
Jako nic proti, ale Edmond Dantés měl tu pomstu promyšlenější a propracovanější.
A nejvíce jsem si oblíbila Cocardesse a Passepoila
September 19, 2012
Tak asi to nebude kniha úplně pro všechny, ne že by byla náročná na čtení, to ne, ale asi by vám neseděl děj. Každopádně Paul Féval píše parádně. Stvořil napínavý a poutavý příběh, který posloužil několikrát jako filmová předloha. Pokud se tedy nebudete pouštět do knihy, pustě si nějaký film. Nedoporučuju Hrbáče z roku 1997. Mně osobně se tohle zpracování nelíbilo, ale možná to bylo proto, že jsem četla knihu. Každopádně je tam spousta věcí úplně jinak.
Lagardére je pro mě nádherná postava. Trochu mi připomíná Zora, i když upřímně, tihle dva spolu nemají vůbec nic společného, tedy až na kord a vychytralost. Takže ano, Jindřivh je velmi vychytralý, mazaný. Díky tomu také několikrát unikl hrobníkovi z lopaty. Mezi šermíři ho předchází jeho pověst. Vyrovnat se mu může pouze vévoda Nevers.
Když už jsme u Neversa, umřel hned na začátku knihy. I když jsem neměla moc šancí poznat ho, bylo to strašně smutné. Málokdy se mi stává, že by mi bylo líto smrti nějaké postavy, o které toho moc nevím. Takže za tohle má autor určitě plus. Byl to skvělý šermíř, šlechtic, bohatý šlechtic.
Gonzauga nenávidím. Už od začátku knihy jsem ho vůbec nemohla vystát. On je také mazaný a vychytralý. Bohužel v tom horším slova smyslu. Mohl by si podat ruku s králem lotrů. A lhářů. Z těch jeho řečí o hrdosti a cti se mi zvedal žaludek.
Kniha je ze začátku strašně zdlouhavá. Vlastně v první polovině prvního dílu se takřka nic neděje. Pouze se vysvětluje, jak co vypadá, kde co je a kdo je kdo. Proto mi asi trvalo také dva dny než jsem se pořádně dopracovala k ději. Ale jsem ráda, že jsem tuhle nezajímavou část překousla.
Až na pár překlepů a časových chyb je naprosto dokonalá. Dobře, sem tam jsou ty proslovy (hlavně Gonzagua) trochu delší ("Audience u krále trvala tři hodiny."), ale jinak to docela plyne. Když jsem si zvykla na styl, ani jsem už moc nevnímala ty dlouhé proslovy o čestnosti apod.
Je to psáno ve formě vypravování. Jako by nám vypravěč četl nějaký příběh. Třetí osoba a často se tam střídají pohledy z různých postav. Bohužel musím říct, že většinou tam převažuje Gonzague.
I když je tam hodně bojů, najde se tam i pár stránek pro romantické duše. I když musím říct, že ta láska tam není napsána tak, jak jsme zvyklí. Rozhodně tam nehledejte "Jindřichu, miluji vás." Jasně, píše se to tam, ale kolikrát jsem nevěděla, jestli ho dotyčná osoba miluje jako přítele nebo jako muže. A ničemu ani nepomáhá, když se tam dva přátelé oslovují "miláčku".
První díl knihy se odehrává zhruba když bylo Lagardérovi 19 let a Auroře jen pár měsíců. Druhá kniha je o 18 - 20 let později a třetí jen navazuje na konec druhého dílu. Musím říct, že trojka pro mě byla ze všech dílů nejlepší, nejnapínavější. Nedoporučuju vám tuhle část číst před spaním, neusnete. Já potom asi další hodinu nemohla spát a nervy mi málem samým napnutím praskly.
Takže abych to shrnula. Příběh lásky, bojů a pomsty. Mně se kniha líbila. Ale za ty málé nedokonalosti má ode mě pouze 4 hvězdičky.
Lagardére je pro mě nádherná postava. Trochu mi připomíná Zora, i když upřímně, tihle dva spolu nemají vůbec nic společného, tedy až na kord a vychytralost. Takže ano, Jindřivh je velmi vychytralý, mazaný. Díky tomu také několikrát unikl hrobníkovi z lopaty. Mezi šermíři ho předchází jeho pověst. Vyrovnat se mu může pouze vévoda Nevers.
Když už jsme u Neversa, umřel hned na začátku knihy. I když jsem neměla moc šancí poznat ho, bylo to strašně smutné. Málokdy se mi stává, že by mi bylo líto smrti nějaké postavy, o které toho moc nevím. Takže za tohle má autor určitě plus. Byl to skvělý šermíř, šlechtic, bohatý šlechtic.
Gonzauga nenávidím. Už od začátku knihy jsem ho vůbec nemohla vystát. On je také mazaný a vychytralý. Bohužel v tom horším slova smyslu. Mohl by si podat ruku s králem lotrů. A lhářů. Z těch jeho řečí o hrdosti a cti se mi zvedal žaludek.
Kniha je ze začátku strašně zdlouhavá. Vlastně v první polovině prvního dílu se takřka nic neděje. Pouze se vysvětluje, jak co vypadá, kde co je a kdo je kdo. Proto mi asi trvalo také dva dny než jsem se pořádně dopracovala k ději. Ale jsem ráda, že jsem tuhle nezajímavou část překousla.
Až na pár překlepů a časových chyb je naprosto dokonalá. Dobře, sem tam jsou ty proslovy (hlavně Gonzagua) trochu delší ("Audience u krále trvala tři hodiny."), ale jinak to docela plyne. Když jsem si zvykla na styl, ani jsem už moc nevnímala ty dlouhé proslovy o čestnosti apod.
Je to psáno ve formě vypravování. Jako by nám vypravěč četl nějaký příběh. Třetí osoba a často se tam střídají pohledy z různých postav. Bohužel musím říct, že většinou tam převažuje Gonzague.
I když je tam hodně bojů, najde se tam i pár stránek pro romantické duše. I když musím říct, že ta láska tam není napsána tak, jak jsme zvyklí. Rozhodně tam nehledejte "Jindřichu, miluji vás." Jasně, píše se to tam, ale kolikrát jsem nevěděla, jestli ho dotyčná osoba miluje jako přítele nebo jako muže. A ničemu ani nepomáhá, když se tam dva přátelé oslovují "miláčku".
První díl knihy se odehrává zhruba když bylo Lagardérovi 19 let a Auroře jen pár měsíců. Druhá kniha je o 18 - 20 let později a třetí jen navazuje na konec druhého dílu. Musím říct, že trojka pro mě byla ze všech dílů nejlepší, nejnapínavější. Nedoporučuju vám tuhle část číst před spaním, neusnete. Já potom asi další hodinu nemohla spát a nervy mi málem samým napnutím praskly.
Takže abych to shrnula. Příběh lásky, bojů a pomsty. Mně se kniha líbila. Ale za ty málé nedokonalosti má ode mě pouze 4 hvězdičky.
February 3, 2018
"Si tu no vas a Lagardere, Lagardere irá por ti." Paul Féval
El Jorobado o Enrique de Lagardere, dependiendo la edición, es para mi gusto la obra maestra del Francés, Paul Feval. Es un libro del genero "Capa y espada," o de "Folletín," al puro estilo de Alejandro Dumas o Miguel Zévaco.
La historia nos narra como por distintas circunstancias, el noble y más temible espadachín de Francia se tiene que hacerse cargo de la hija de su mejor amigo Felipe de Lorena, duque de Nevers. Y para poder realizar su encargo, decide disfrazarse de jorobado.
La verdad es una obra completa, divertida e interesante; simplemente genial. Tiene romance, espadazos, política, historia y simplemente te atrapa y no dejas de leer.
El Jorobado o Enrique de Lagardere, dependiendo la edición, es para mi gusto la obra maestra del Francés, Paul Feval. Es un libro del genero "Capa y espada," o de "Folletín," al puro estilo de Alejandro Dumas o Miguel Zévaco.
La historia nos narra como por distintas circunstancias, el noble y más temible espadachín de Francia se tiene que hacerse cargo de la hija de su mejor amigo Felipe de Lorena, duque de Nevers. Y para poder realizar su encargo, decide disfrazarse de jorobado.
La verdad es una obra completa, divertida e interesante; simplemente genial. Tiene romance, espadazos, política, historia y simplemente te atrapa y no dejas de leer.
August 14, 2016
Personaje puternice, neînfricate ce dovedesc mult curaj și simț al onoarei, detalii istorice bine documentate, aventuri spectaculoase ce te țin cu sufletul la gură până la final, plus povestea de iubire neconvențională, dar care te cucerește prin intensitatea sentimentelor dintre cei doi eroi, toate acestea fac din Cocoșatul o carte memorabilă, pe care a-i reciti-o cu plăcere la orice vârstă.
http://www.delicateseliterare.ro/coco...
http://www.delicateseliterare.ro/coco...
May 8, 2013
One of my favorite books of all time!
May 5, 2017
Fajna przygodówka historyczna. Przypominała mi trochę "Hrabiego Monte Cristo".
August 4, 2015
The best..
December 23, 2022
M’attendez-vous, me cherchez vous, me regrettez-vous? Suis-je dans vos prières du matin et du soir? Me voyez-vous, vous aussi, dans vos songes?
Parfois, mon cœur vous parle; m’attendez-vous? Si l’on m’accorde jamais ce grand bonheur de vous voir, ma mère chérie, je vous demanderai s’il n’était pas des instants où votre cœur tressaillait sans motif. Je vous dirai: « c’est que vous entendiez le cri de mon cœur, ma mère! »
Quel livre merveilleux! C’est un vrai roman de cape et d’épée et je ne pouvais pas m’arrêter de le lire! Je l’ai trouvé vraiment émouvant et c’était comme les livres d’Alexandre Dumas.
Il s’agit de la vie d’Aurore de Nevers, l’héritière de le grand duc de Nevers, assassiné il y a vingt ans. Le chevalier de Lagardère veut aider Aurore à gagner sa fortune perdue, et de retourner la fille à sa mère. Mais, il a un ennemi puissant, le prince de Gonzague, qui veut voler tout l’argent de Nevers et d’enlever Aurore.
Je recommande ce livre à tout le monde, surtout les gens qui aiment les romans de Dumas et Michel Zévaco. Personne ne regrettera lire ce roman.
Parfois, mon cœur vous parle; m’attendez-vous? Si l’on m’accorde jamais ce grand bonheur de vous voir, ma mère chérie, je vous demanderai s’il n’était pas des instants où votre cœur tressaillait sans motif. Je vous dirai: « c’est que vous entendiez le cri de mon cœur, ma mère! »
Quel livre merveilleux! C’est un vrai roman de cape et d’épée et je ne pouvais pas m’arrêter de le lire! Je l’ai trouvé vraiment émouvant et c’était comme les livres d’Alexandre Dumas.
Il s’agit de la vie d’Aurore de Nevers, l’héritière de le grand duc de Nevers, assassiné il y a vingt ans. Le chevalier de Lagardère veut aider Aurore à gagner sa fortune perdue, et de retourner la fille à sa mère. Mais, il a un ennemi puissant, le prince de Gonzague, qui veut voler tout l’argent de Nevers et d’enlever Aurore.
Je recommande ce livre à tout le monde, surtout les gens qui aiment les romans de Dumas et Michel Zévaco. Personne ne regrettera lire ce roman.
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July 3, 2024Soooooooo
This book’s plot is mainly based on incest, let’ be honest. Sure, he is not her biological father but he FUCKING RAISED HER
AND he is almost 20 years older than her but oh well, people on this app are used to much worse as far as I know
(And don’t tell me about different times = different customs I KNOW that thank you. Also this point doesn’t even stand since even the author goes through several pages of difficult, obscure and quite dishonest justification to try to make us accept this very weird and creepy relationship)
HOWEVER I must say I absolutely loved reading this book ! Honestly, each one of the characters are unique and masterly written. Gonzague is not your typical villain, which makes him ten times more interesting. The part of the plot dedicated to him and his « friends », where he slowly and progressively chains them to him is riveting ! Moreover, Chaverny resisting it and choosing a more righteous path has my heart.
I could write a book about all of my thoughts about this story but let me just conclude by saying it is a nice way to discover the fascinating world of cape and sword books
This book’s plot is mainly based on incest, let’ be honest. Sure, he is not her biological father but he FUCKING RAISED HER
AND he is almost 20 years older than her but oh well, people on this app are used to much worse as far as I know
(And don’t tell me about different times = different customs I KNOW that thank you. Also this point doesn’t even stand since even the author goes through several pages of difficult, obscure and quite dishonest justification to try to make us accept this very weird and creepy relationship)
HOWEVER I must say I absolutely loved reading this book ! Honestly, each one of the characters are unique and masterly written. Gonzague is not your typical villain, which makes him ten times more interesting. The part of the plot dedicated to him and his « friends », where he slowly and progressively chains them to him is riveting ! Moreover, Chaverny resisting it and choosing a more righteous path has my heart.
I could write a book about all of my thoughts about this story but let me just conclude by saying it is a nice way to discover the fascinating world of cape and sword books
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 11, 2023
Il cavaliere di Lagardere è un libro che meriterebbe un pubblico di gran lunga superiore a quello che effettivamente possiede.
In stile molto simile a Dumas, Feval racconta la storia di un cavaliere, il migliore di tutta la Francia, che si ritrova immischiato in un piano di conquista, quello del conte Gonzaga, che a sangue freddo decide di uccidere il migliore amico, duca di Nevers, così da potersi impossessare della moglie Inès Caylus e della fortuna che questa ha ereditato.
A Lagardere, nella notte della congiura, verrà affidata la bambina di Nevers e di Inès, di cui nessuno è a conoscenza, assieme alle carte del loro matrimonio segreto.
Proteggendo la bambina il cavaliere coltiverà la sua vendetta, cercando e uccidendo tutti i traditori che presero parte alla congiura.
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Un libro bellissimo che trasporta indietro nel tempo a vivere gli onori e i doveri delle corti settecentesce✨️
In stile molto simile a Dumas, Feval racconta la storia di un cavaliere, il migliore di tutta la Francia, che si ritrova immischiato in un piano di conquista, quello del conte Gonzaga, che a sangue freddo decide di uccidere il migliore amico, duca di Nevers, così da potersi impossessare della moglie Inès Caylus e della fortuna che questa ha ereditato.
A Lagardere, nella notte della congiura, verrà affidata la bambina di Nevers e di Inès, di cui nessuno è a conoscenza, assieme alle carte del loro matrimonio segreto.
Proteggendo la bambina il cavaliere coltiverà la sua vendetta, cercando e uccidendo tutti i traditori che presero parte alla congiura.
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Un libro bellissimo che trasporta indietro nel tempo a vivere gli onori e i doveri delle corti settecentesce✨️
July 22, 2021
"Płaszcz i szpada".... Czy ja właśnie wysłuchałam powieść z gatunku "płaszcza i szpady"? Niby to nie jest moja pierwsza powieść tego gatunku, bo czytałam conieco Dumasa ojca i Hiszpana "W cieniu Inkwizycji", ale Francuzów? Nigdy!
Ogólnie wrażenia mam w miarę pozytywne, choć książka potrzebuje czasu aby się rozkręcić. Nie dziwię się, że została zekranizowana, bo akcja jest wartka i pełna zwrotów akcji, w dodatku młodzieniec zostaje obarczony opieką nad małą dziewczynką, więc jeżeli ktoś lubi tego typu wątki to powinno mu to podpasować. Do czasu.
Natomiast jako antagonistę mamy cwaną bestię :)
Ogólnie wrażenia mam w miarę pozytywne, choć książka potrzebuje czasu aby się rozkręcić. Nie dziwię się, że została zekranizowana, bo akcja jest wartka i pełna zwrotów akcji, w dodatku młodzieniec zostaje obarczony opieką nad małą dziewczynką, więc jeżeli ktoś lubi tego typu wątki to powinno mu to podpasować. Do czasu.
Natomiast jako antagonistę mamy cwaną bestię :)
July 29, 2023
This is exactly what I want from a swashbuckling story - royal intrigues, duels, swords, love story, hidden identity. Unlike many other representatives of the genre (mostly written by A. Dumas), this one has significantly less elements of a historical tale, and focuses on the adventure, which for some might be a great selling point.
I can't say there was a time while I wasn't entertained, even though the plots twists weren't exactly breathtaking - I'd say you can see were the story is going. That, however, doesn't make it any less satisfying to see how Lagardère is owning everybody. It just brings a huge smile on your face while you are waiting for the reveal.
There was one thing that I didn't fully enjoy, and that was the romance subplot. I don't want to spoil anything, so I will just say that for me that whole thing felt a bit icky. Fortunately, it's not exactly the main plot
I can't say there was a time while I wasn't entertained, even though the plots twists weren't exactly breathtaking - I'd say you can see were the story is going. That, however, doesn't make it any less satisfying to see how Lagardère is owning everybody. It just brings a huge smile on your face while you are waiting for the reveal.
There was one thing that I didn't fully enjoy, and that was the romance subplot. I don't want to spoil anything, so I will just say that for me that whole thing felt a bit icky. Fortunately, it's not exactly the main plot
November 3, 2018
Es un "folletín" de manual, una novela de capa y espada decimonónica, pero Féval no alcanza, ni por asomo, la maestría de Alejandro Dumas padre en el género.
Lagardére, el héroe de la novela, es excesivamente plano, virtuoso y sin aristas. Valiente, recto, bello, abnegado, leal y sin debilidad conocida; un Cyrano de Bergerac guapo y sin propensión a la botella. Resulta difícil de tolerar. Como vengador y justiciero, al contrario que Dumas con Edmundo Dantés, en ningún momento consigue la empatía incondicional del lector. Y sus compañeros, Corcadasse y Passepoil, son una versión pobre de Porthos y Aramis.
Con todo, no deja de ser una novela entretenida, que se deja leer, muy recomendable para los entusiastas del género.
Lagardére, el héroe de la novela, es excesivamente plano, virtuoso y sin aristas. Valiente, recto, bello, abnegado, leal y sin debilidad conocida; un Cyrano de Bergerac guapo y sin propensión a la botella. Resulta difícil de tolerar. Como vengador y justiciero, al contrario que Dumas con Edmundo Dantés, en ningún momento consigue la empatía incondicional del lector. Y sus compañeros, Corcadasse y Passepoil, son una versión pobre de Porthos y Aramis.
Con todo, no deja de ser una novela entretenida, que se deja leer, muy recomendable para los entusiastas del género.
September 25, 2021
Roman de cape et d’épée, il n’y a pas tromperie sur la marchandise mordiou ! Archétype du roman populaire du milieu du XIXe siècle, Le Bossu s’est construit à mesure de sa publication en feuilleton et ne manque donc pas de rebondissements, de personnages secondaires hauts en couleur, de digressions inutiles et plaisantes ou encore de tableaux exotiques destinés à accrocher le lecteur. Il y aussi les inévitables scènes mélodramatiques provoquées par la non moins inévitable orpheline persécutée dont la haute naissance sera finalement révélée au grand jour. Celles-la sont un peu plus fastidieuse mais il en faut toutes les catégories de lecteurs n’est-ce pas?
Bref, voici quelques centaines de pages hautement divertissantes que je ne peux que recommander chaudement.
Bref, voici quelques centaines de pages hautement divertissantes que je ne peux que recommander chaudement.
October 28, 2021
Féval keeps the tension up to the very end in this one. Skillfully crafted in a way one rarely finds in modern fiction. A number of surprising plot twists and clever resolutions, all artfully set up and executed. Although it's set against a swashbuckling backdrop, the drama of virtue against corruption mostly plays out in the realm of wits and cleverness.
We get some of the Hugo-style history lecture, but it's much more tempered here, enough to give you a general sense of location and context without drifting off into abstruse theories. I found the tension a bit too intense at times, but there is also plenty of joviality along with it.
We get some of the Hugo-style history lecture, but it's much more tempered here, enough to give you a general sense of location and context without drifting off into abstruse theories. I found the tension a bit too intense at times, but there is also plenty of joviality along with it.
June 11, 2020
I've read this book over and over again as a primary kid, admiring Henri Lagardère and being completely immersed in an intriguing plot. There is a beautiful lady, a wicked duke and huge well-guarded secret. I have such nostalgic memories connected to this book - my numerous visits to the local library to borrow the book again and again, the smell and feel of the old hardcover and the vivid characters I remember nearly 40 years later.
July 30, 2024
Hrbáč (1857) - francúzsky dobrodružný román z devätnásteho storočia odohrávajúci sa za vlády Ľudovíta VX., v ktorom nájdete všetko, čo predstavovala "doba kordov": zradu i pomstu, nenávisť i lásku, chudobu i bohatstvo, príkoria i spravodlivosť. Ak máte radi príbehy Alexandra Dumasa, potom neváhajte ani pri Fevalovom Hrbáčovi. Príbeh je zamotaný tak ako sa patrí, nič tu nie je zadarmo a aj odvíjanie životov si vyžaduje svoju presne stanovenú časovú líniu.
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