Captain Fracasse

French poet, prose writer, journalist, critic, and traveler Théophile Gautier entered literary history as the «last romantic» and the first representative of the new «Parnassian» school in French poetry. His works include dozens of short stories and several novels, among which the most famous is «Captain Fracasse» (1861–1863), written during the late period of his creativity. This historical-adventure novel transports the reader to France during the time of Louis XIII, along the roads where, with a troupe of wandering comedians, a fallen nobleman Baron de Sigognac wanders under the stage pseudonym that gave the book its title, in love with the young actress Isabella. Rivalry in love, duels and chases, ambushes by bandits, sudden disappearances, a happy rescue, a longed-for wedding, and the discovery of an ancient treasure—these all signify the traits of a «cloak and dagger» novel combined with the glorification of free theatrical life, which ensured the book's lasting popularity in Gautier's homeland and beyond, as evidenced by numerous reissues, theatrical productions, and later adaptations. In this edition, the novel is accompanied by magnificent classical illustrations by Gustave Doré.