Honoré de Balzac, Laurent Poret
The Chouans
language
( April 25, 2019)
This three-chapter novel by Honoré de Balzac was first published under the title Le dernier Chouan ou la Bretagne in 1799, by Urbain Canel, in 1829.
It will be published, with some modifications, under its final title in 1834 by Vimont.
Executive Summary
In September 1799, on the borders of Normandy and Brittany, a republican troop led by Commander Hulot was attacked by Breton peasants, the Chouans, who were fighting for the king's return.
Fouché, the police minister, wants to stop this new insurrection in Brittany. He sent the beautiful spy Marie de Verneuil to seduce their charismatic leader, the Marquis de Montauran, known as the Gars. She must, with the help of Corentin, Fouché's right-hand man, an ambitious and unscrupulous policeman, make him fall into a trap
At their first meeting, the Guy and Mary fall in love with each other. Attracted by the one she must neutralize, the beautiful spy forgets the purpose of her mission, which she only accepted to escape poverty.
But one of the insurgents told the Marquis de Montauran that Mary was a courtesan and a spy. Furious, he insulted her and chased her away. The Republican soldiers were then massacred by Montauran's troops, and Mary narrowly escaped death.
Marie de Verneuil wants revenge, but understands that the Guy has been abused. To prove her love for him, she managed to see him again at a ball. The two lovers manage to clear up any misunderstandings and admit their passion. They will marry once Montauran has laid down his arms. It was then that Corentin, worried that Mary would defeat his mission, made him believe that the Marquis loved his mortal rival, Madame du Gua. Outraged, Marie delivers Montauran to Hulot. When she realizes that the letter was a fake, it's too late to run. The two lovers only had time to get married, before being killed by Republican soldiers.
It will be published, with some modifications, under its final title in 1834 by Vimont.
Executive Summary
In September 1799, on the borders of Normandy and Brittany, a republican troop led by Commander Hulot was attacked by Breton peasants, the Chouans, who were fighting for the king's return.
Fouché, the police minister, wants to stop this new insurrection in Brittany. He sent the beautiful spy Marie de Verneuil to seduce their charismatic leader, the Marquis de Montauran, known as the Gars. She must, with the help of Corentin, Fouché's right-hand man, an ambitious and unscrupulous policeman, make him fall into a trap
At their first meeting, the Guy and Mary fall in love with each other. Attracted by the one she must neutralize, the beautiful spy forgets the purpose of her mission, which she only accepted to escape poverty.
But one of the insurgents told the Marquis de Montauran that Mary was a courtesan and a spy. Furious, he insulted her and chased her away. The Republican soldiers were then massacred by Montauran's troops, and Mary narrowly escaped death.
Marie de Verneuil wants revenge, but understands that the Guy has been abused. To prove her love for him, she managed to see him again at a ball. The two lovers manage to clear up any misunderstandings and admit their passion. They will marry once Montauran has laid down his arms. It was then that Corentin, worried that Mary would defeat his mission, made him believe that the Marquis loved his mortal rival, Madame du Gua. Outraged, Marie delivers Montauran to Hulot. When she realizes that the letter was a fake, it's too late to run. The two lovers only had time to get married, before being killed by Republican soldiers.