Which? Or, Between Two Women
Public-domain ebook
Which? Or, Between Two Women
Language: en5,554 downloads on Project Gutenberg
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Public-domain ebook sourced from Project Gutenberg #21838.
About this book
Ernest Daudet’s Which? Or, Between Two Women is a historical romance that intertwines personal intrigue with the tumult of the French Revolution. The narrative opens on a storm‑tossed morning in 1770, when a young gypsy woman named Tiepoletta flees with her newborn child toward the Pont du Gard, escaping a brutal tribe that seeks to seize her infant. From this desperate flight the story expands to the Château de Chamondrin, the Parisian streets, and the infamous Conciergerie, where nobles await judgment. The plot, described as “simple and without mystery,” nevertheless packs a cascade of dramatic episodes, prison scenes, attacks on châteaux, and daring rescues, while centering on a love triangle between the gypsy beauty Dolores, the aristocratic Antoinette de Mirandol, and the man they both adore, Philip de Chamondrin.
Daudet writes in the lush, melodramatic prose of late‑19th‑century French literature, blending vivid description with a brisk, adventure‑driven pace. His voice captures both the gritty realism of revolutionary Paris and the heightened emotions of romantic rivalry, making the novel appealing to readers who enjoy richly textured historical settings, intricate character dynamics, and a narrative that balances romance with the larger sweep of history.
Characters in Which? Or, Between Two Women
- DoloresYoung gypsy woman, dark flowing hair, olive skin, embroidered shawl, 1770s rustic attire
- Antoinette de MirandolAristocratic lady, powdered coiffure, delicate face, silk gown with lace, pearl necklace, 18th‑century French fashion
- Philip de ChamondrinHandsome young noble, trimmed beard, tricorn hat, military coat with epaulettes, aristocratic bearing
The opening · free to read
"WHICH? OR, BETWEEN TWO WOMEN," is the latest and most powerful novel from the pen of the celebrated French novelist, Ernest Daudet. It is fully worthy of its famous author's great reputation, for a more absorbing and thrilling romance has seldom been published. The interest begins at once with the flight of the gypsy mother with her child and her death in the Chateau de Chamondrin, where the friendless little one is received and cared for. The plot is simple and without mystery, but never, perhaps, were so many stirring incidents crowded within the covers of a novel. The scene is laid in Paris and the country, and some of the most striking events of the times are vividly reproduced. The reader is given a very realistic glimpse of Paris, and part of the action takes place in that historic prison, the Conciergerie, where nobles and others accused of crimes against the French Republic were confined. History and fiction are adroitly mingled in the excellent novel, which may be termed a double love story in that two women are passionately attached to one man. On the thrilling adventures and heart experiences of this trio the romance turns, and the reader's attention is kept constantly riveted to the exciting narrative. The other characters are all naturally drawn, and the book as a whole is one of the best and most absorbing novels that can be found. It will delight everybody.
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