Mention Books In Pursuance Of Joseph Balsamo (Mémoires d’un médecin #1)
| Original Title: | Joseph Balsamo |
| ISBN: | 1600961150 (ISBN13: 9781600961151) |
| Edition Language: | English |
| Series: | Mémoires d’un médecin #1, The Marie Antoinette Romances #1, part 1 |
| Characters: | Marie Antoinette, Cagliostro, Andrée de Taverney, Philippe de Taverney Maison Rouge, Louis XV of France, Louis XVI of France, Gilbert, Madame du Barry, Louis, duke of Richelieu, Jean-Jacques Rousseau |
Alexandre Dumas
Paperback | Pages: 586 pages Rating: 3.98 | 1074 Users | 65 Reviews
Present Containing Books Joseph Balsamo (Mémoires d’un médecin #1)
| Title | : | Joseph Balsamo (Mémoires d’un médecin #1) |
| Author | : | Alexandre Dumas |
| Book Format | : | Paperback |
| Book Edition | : | Deluxe Edition |
| Pages | : | Pages: 586 pages |
| Published | : | July 30th 2008 by Waking Lion Press (first published 1848) |
| Categories | : | Classics. Historical. Historical Fiction. Fiction. European Literature. French Literature. Cultural. France. Novels. Literature. 19th Century |
Commentary To Books Joseph Balsamo (Mémoires d’un médecin #1)
Memoirs of a Physician begins where Joseph Balsamo left off as all Paris panics after a fireworks display goes awry and Andrée is almost crushed to death beneath the mob. Andrée's brother Phillip desperately searches for her and is feared dead - until she is returned unharmed to her family by the mysterious Balsamo. Lower born Gilbert is still madly in love with Andrée and he follows her (working as a gardener) when she is taken into service by Marie Antoinette. Madame DuBarry continues her schemes, as does the mysterious Balsamo working with the Freemasons to stir unrest against the monarchy and lustful Louis XV takes one look at the beauteous Andrée and he plots with her father to make her his latest conquest.Actually, there's a whole lot more to the story than that but this is Dumas and it would take another novel to try to outline the story better. Suffice it to say that as in the first book in this series, the opulence and shenanigans of the French Court, the manipulations of the politicians, Balsamo's hypnotic control over his wife Lorenza and Andrée, secret rooms and hidden staircases, a mad desire by Balsamo's master to obtain the one horrific ingredient needed to complete his elixir of eternal life culminates in a thoroughly unputdownable tale that had me reading well into the wee hours of the morning. I especially loved Gilbert's antics (ROFL, Hollywood would have a field day with this) as he spied on Andrée and the way Dumas used her contempt of his lower status as a way to emphasize the growing disparity between the classes. Next up in the series, The Queen's Necklace (1902).
Side note on the first two books in this series - as I understand it they were originally published in one volume called Memoirs of a Physician and are now published separately as Joseph Balsamo and Memoirs of a Physician. I've noticed some complaints from other reviewers on the quality of editing and translation of some of these newly published editions and went searching for an older used copy and was quite happy with that.
Rating Containing Books Joseph Balsamo (Mémoires d’un médecin #1)
Ratings: 3.98 From 1074 Users | 65 ReviewsCriticism Containing Books Joseph Balsamo (Mémoires d’un médecin #1)
The book was amazing, frankly speaking. I daresay that it was even better than the better-known novels by Dumas, e.g. 'Count of Monte Cristo'. The plot was complex with unexpected twists in every chapter, and I love how Dumas builds his characters - my favourites were duc de Richelieu and Nicole - you really start to think with them, worry about them, care for them. Apart from the intrigues at court, I also liked the 'metaphysical' parts, described in an unusual and fascinating way. I definitelyThis is the first of five historical novels in Dumas Marie Antoinette series. The title character, Joseph Balsamo, is modeled after the 18th century Italian adventurer and occultist, Alessandro Cagliostro. At the novels opening he meets with a group of fellow Freemasons and initiates a vast plot to bring down the French Monarchy. The plot traces his machinations during the time of Marie Antoinettes travels from Austria to Paris to wed the future Louis XVI, ending shortly after their marriage.
#1, Vol. 1 The Marie Antoinette Romances series - Historical FictionBased on events just before, during and after the fall of the French monarchy, this second volume of book 1 follows volume one, titled Joseph Balsamo.Very engrossing. The arrow stops in the "high" range on the Intrigue-O-Meter, with King Louie XV, his mistress, Mme. Dubarry, his closest advisors -- all of them with separate agendas, trying to manipulate as many people as possible to achieve their goals.Minor characters from
Dumas wrote about many historical periods in France. Joseph Balsamo was the first in his cycle about the French Revolution. I never got very attached to it. Sure, it was all the hooks and cliff-hangers that one comes to expect from Dumas, but the characters lack the depth and reality of his truly great protagonists and villains.
Another great entry in Dumas' French historical fiction. Characters were unique and intriguing. The end will make you reflect greatly on characters you liked and repercussions of actions.
I read it as a child (at the age of 13), borrowing it from my parents bookshelves, and I was stunned by it. Still remember it vividly. Dumass style is captivating, the story is exciting and engaging. One of the most memorable classics Ive ever read.
Balsamo is one of his most interesting characters, a mystic and freemason who is sort of evil and horrible but sort of wonderful and noble a classic complex and multilayered Dumas hero. He reappears in several Dumas titles. This is one of my favorite Dumas.
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