
La terrible et m[erveil]leuse vie de Robe[rt le] diable Nouvellement Imprimee a Paris.
¶ Cy commence la terrible & merveilleuse vie de Robert le diable / lequel aprés fust nommé l'homme Dieu.
¶ La declaration du nom de Robert le diable.
¶ Comme aprés que le Duc de Normandie eut espousé la fille du duc de Bourgongne l'emmena triumphamment a rouen.
¶ Comme le Duc en venant de l'esbat se complaignoit a la duchesse de ce qu'ilz ne pouoient avoir enfant.
¶ Comme Robert le diable fut engendré. Et comme sa mere le donna au diable a son concepvement.
¶ Comme robert le diable fut né et de la grand douleur que sa mere eut a l'enfantement.
¶ Des terribles signes qui furent ouys et veuz au naissement de Robert le diable.
¶ Comme les enfans tous d'un commun accord le nommerent Robert le diable.
¶ Comme Robert le diable tua son maistre.
A richly textured medieval chronicle opens with a reverent voice that invokes the Virgin Mary and Saint Augustine, framing the tale as both a prayer and a moral guide. From the very first lines we meet a newborn in Normandy, ominously named Robert le Diable, whose very name hints at a destiny that will straddle wonder and dread. The narrator’s solemn tone sets the stage for a story where faith, fate, and feudal ambition intertwine.
The early chapters follow the powerful Duke Hubert, a celebrated noble whose court gathers at a festive Christmas in Vernon. Amid the pageantry and counsel of barons, the duke confronts a delicate marriage proposal that could secure his lineage and elevate his standing. These events weave a vivid picture of Norman aristocracy, chivalric duty, and the looming shadows that will shape Robert’s remarkable yet perilous journey. Listeners are invited into a world where holy devotion and worldly power clash, hinting at the extraordinary path that lies ahead.
Language
fr
Duration
~1 hours (95K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Laurent Vogel (This file was produced from images generously made available by the Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF/Gallica) at http://gallica.bnf.fr)
Release date
Oct 2, 2007
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
“Anonymous” is the enduring name given to writers whose identities are unknown, undisclosed, or lost to history. Their works invite readers to focus on the story, ideas, and voice rather than the person behind the page.
View all books