Dumas' Romances (Volume 19); The Company of Jehu (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1894. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... THE COMPANY OF JEHU. A WORD TO THE READER. It is about a year since my old friend, Jules Simon, author of " Devoir " asked me to write him a novel for the "Journal pour Tous." I told him the subject of one which I had in my mind. It suited him; and we came to an agreement on the spot. The action took place from 1791 to 1793, and the first chapter opened at Varennes the evening of the king's arrest. I told Jules Simon that however impatient the " Journal" might be, 1 must have a fortnight before I began the book. I wanted to go to Varennes; I had never been to Varennes. Now there is one thing I cannot do; I cannot write a book or a drama about localities I have never seen. To write "Christine" I went to Fontainebleau; to write "Henri III." I went to Blois; to write "Les Trois Mousquetaires" I went to Be'thune and Boulogne; to write "Monte-Cristo " I returned to the Catalans and the Chateau d'lf; to write "Isaac Laquedem " I revisited Rome; and I did, most certainly, spend more time in studying Jerusalem and Corinth from a distance than it would have taken me to go there. That gives such a character of truth to what I write that the personages I plant in certain places seem to grow there; and some people have been led to think they have actually existed; in fact, there are persons who say they have known them. With regard to this, I shall tell you a little thing in confidence, my dear readers, only don't repeat it. I do not wish to injure worthy family-men who live by the little industry, but if you go to Marseille they will show you Morel's house on the Cours, Mercfkles' house at the Catalans, and the dungeons of Dantes and Faria at the Chateau d'If. When I brought out "Monte-Cristo" at the TheatreHistorique I wrote to Marseille for a drawing of the Chateau d'If, ...