
In a plush Bellechasse smoking room, three lifelong friends— a disciplined general, a globe‑trotting explorer, and a reflective gentleman of mixed vigor—reconvene after years apart. Their conversation drifts from the comforts of Parisian society to the raw, untamed world their companion has just left, setting a tone that balances camaraderie with an undercurrent of unease.
The explorer, fresh from the African coast, launches into a gripping recount of a nightmarish hunt for a gorilla that turned into a desperate rescue of a young Englishwoman. His vivid description of the jungle’s oppressive heat, the primal strength of the beast, and the fragile humanity caught in its grip draws listeners into a tense clash of civilization and wilderness. The tale unfolds with a blend of scientific curiosity, colonial intrigue, and haunting emotion, promising a story that lingers long after the smoke clears.
Language
fr
Duration
~3 hours (222K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2004-08-15
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1859–1913
A key figure in French naturalist theater, he wrote gritty plays and novels drawn from the streets and margins of Paris. He is especially remembered for founding the Théâtre du Grand-Guignol in 1897, a venue that became famous for shocking, realistic drama.
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