The Black Tulip
Author: Alexandre Dumas
Translated fro French
Original Title: La Tulipe Noire
Published: 1850
Book Description (from Good Reads): Cornelius von Baerle, a respectable tulip-grower, lives only to cultivate the elusive black tulip and win a magnificent prize for its creation. But after his powerful godfather is assassinated, the unwitting Cornelius becomes caught up in deadly political intrigue and is falsely accused of high treason by a bitter rival. Condemned to life imprisonment, his only comfort is Rosa, the jailer's beautiful daughter, and together they concoct a plan to grow the black tulip in secret. Dumas' last major historical novel is a tale of romantic love, jealousy and obsession, interweaving historical events surrounding the brutal murders of two Dutch statesmen in 1672 with the phenomenon of tulipomania that gripped seventeenth-century Holland.
Thoughts:
Initially, it is hard to imagine how important a damned flower will be in the political intrigue that is brewing in the life of these French men being accused of treason. And yet it is, the passion in which growing the flower becomes the main downfall, all for the envy and greed based on the so sought after flower a huge tragedy befalls a man.
But it also shows the injustice of people in power, how the truth is not what matters, people are judged based on the perspective of those in power and once they make up their mind about the guilt or innocence of a person it is almost impossible to allow a change in the matter.
It has drama, a very convenient and superficial love story. Why? Well, the people involved, have very limited exposure to the opposite sex and before they have known each other too much there is already a connection-
From her side, it is immediate affection, devotion enough to want to save a man widely convicted as a criminal traitor to their nation. there is really no reason for her to be that dedicated to the criminal.
From him, at least the affection comes in stages, first, he wishes to provide for the good woman who has treated him kindly. But then as soon as he begins to realize she would eventually be with another man, he suddenly wants her for himself.
Really?
Other than that, the story was very enjoyable. The drama of getting the flower, the uncertainty of not knowing if the flower would grow and the chaos it comes with trying to claim the prize. There is an antagonist who is in a way very unlucky and very resourceful; thanks to his interference the story never seems to be dull.
The story has it all: drama, political intrigue, romance, envy, treason. It totally keeps you wanting to finish it. A nice touch also for a classic, it is very understandable and with the whole mess of the flower and such, it does not have the feeling of being a drag to read.
This book was picked in order to accomplish two small yearly challenges:
*Read more classics.
*Read translated works or read from authors of all the world.
Translated fro French
Original Title: La Tulipe Noire
Published: 1850
Book Description (from Good Reads): Cornelius von Baerle, a respectable tulip-grower, lives only to cultivate the elusive black tulip and win a magnificent prize for its creation. But after his powerful godfather is assassinated, the unwitting Cornelius becomes caught up in deadly political intrigue and is falsely accused of high treason by a bitter rival. Condemned to life imprisonment, his only comfort is Rosa, the jailer's beautiful daughter, and together they concoct a plan to grow the black tulip in secret. Dumas' last major historical novel is a tale of romantic love, jealousy and obsession, interweaving historical events surrounding the brutal murders of two Dutch statesmen in 1672 with the phenomenon of tulipomania that gripped seventeenth-century Holland.
Thoughts:
Initially, it is hard to imagine how important a damned flower will be in the political intrigue that is brewing in the life of these French men being accused of treason. And yet it is, the passion in which growing the flower becomes the main downfall, all for the envy and greed based on the so sought after flower a huge tragedy befalls a man.
But it also shows the injustice of people in power, how the truth is not what matters, people are judged based on the perspective of those in power and once they make up their mind about the guilt or innocence of a person it is almost impossible to allow a change in the matter.
It has drama, a very convenient and superficial love story. Why? Well, the people involved, have very limited exposure to the opposite sex and before they have known each other too much there is already a connection-
From her side, it is immediate affection, devotion enough to want to save a man widely convicted as a criminal traitor to their nation. there is really no reason for her to be that dedicated to the criminal.
From him, at least the affection comes in stages, first, he wishes to provide for the good woman who has treated him kindly. But then as soon as he begins to realize she would eventually be with another man, he suddenly wants her for himself.
Really?
Other than that, the story was very enjoyable. The drama of getting the flower, the uncertainty of not knowing if the flower would grow and the chaos it comes with trying to claim the prize. There is an antagonist who is in a way very unlucky and very resourceful; thanks to his interference the story never seems to be dull.
The story has it all: drama, political intrigue, romance, envy, treason. It totally keeps you wanting to finish it. A nice touch also for a classic, it is very understandable and with the whole mess of the flower and such, it does not have the feeling of being a drag to read.
This book was picked in order to accomplish two small yearly challenges:
*Read more classics.
*Read translated works or read from authors of all the world.
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