FOLIO SOCIETY THE BLACK TULIP Alexandre Dumas NEW SEALED

Description: Folio Society – THE BLACK TULIP by Alexandre Dumas In the Hague, a mob of townsmen and militia stirred up by the lies and agitators stands outside the city’s prison baying for the blood of the de Witt brothers; disgraced statesmen unjustly accused of a plot against William of Orange. Meanwhile, in the quiet country town of Dordrecht, de Witt’s godson Cornelius devotes himself to his tulips – most especially to the cultivation of a true black flower, considered impossible, but for which the Haarlem Tulip Society has offered a magnificent prize. The naïve Cornelius cares only for flowers, but he has stirred up a deadly rivalry and rage in the heart of his neighbour, who will stop at nothing to get his hands on the precious tulip bulb. Weaving together two strands of Dutch history – the brutal, political murder that brought William of Orange to power and the phenomenon of tulipomania – Alexandre Dumas creates a portrait of ambition, from the coldly Machiavellian manoeuvres of William of Orange to the idées fixes that can obsess even a good man. Most perfectly and unforgettably drawn of all is the novel’s heroine. Rosa, the gaoler’s daughter, falls in love with Cornelius and brings all her resourcefulness, shrewd intelligence and courage to bear to save him. Dumas, already famous for such romances as The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo, published The Black Tulip in 1850. It would be the last of his great works. A year later, political upheaval and his own debts forced him to flee France. He took refuge in Belgium and later Italy, pursuing the kind of political and idealistic adventuring he had previously written about – travelling in Russia and joining the struggle for a united, independent Italy. In 2002, Dumas’s special place in French literature was recognised when he was reinterred in Pantheon alongside his contemporary and friend Victor Hugo. In his introduction, writer and academic Peter Conrad explores how Dumas relishes the god-like power of the author to make the impossible happen and allow good to triumph against all the odds. DESCRIPTION: Introduced by Peter Conrad. Illustrated by Portia Rosenberg. Translated by Robin Buss. Quarter-bound in buckram, with paper sides, printed with a design by the artist. Set in Adobe Caslon. 256 pages. Frontispiece and 9 black & white illustrations. Size: 9" × 53/4" CONDITION: Book is NEW and SEALED in the publisher’s original SHRINK WRAP. However, please note the very light shelf wear including very small tear to the shrink wrap only (see photo 5) Postage will be by Royal Mail Tracked 48 with Signature service costing £4.95 All items are sent at cost price whether purchasing a single or multiple items. Due to size, weight and value considerations it is not possible to accurately calculate combined postage automatically. Always feel free to ask or if purchases require immediate payment I will refund any difference. All items must be sent to the address stipulated during the payment process. All items are sent via recorded delivery unless they are of little monetary value. Virtually all my items are available through the global shipping program (GSP) to designated countries outside the UK. Please note I have no control over international postage costs. I do not set these, eBay's GSP does, I send the items to an address in the UK and am not even aware of the country for which they are destined. Items purchased through the GSP must be sent via the GSP shipping centre. For multiple purchases, I cannot combine postage after items are purchased but if you contact me before buying I can try combining multiple items into a single listing which is usually less expensive. Please ask any questions before buying 70PC

Price: 28.99 GBP

Location: UK

End Time: 2024-12-22T16:51:34.000Z

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