
Set against the fevered backdrop of the French Revolution, the narrative follows a modest Parisian woman who finds her world upended as the nation tears itself apart. From the summer of 1793, when the guillotine looms over the streets, to the tentative thaw of the following spring, her daily life becomes a series of small acts of courage and quiet resistance. Through bustling markets, secret meetings, and the ever‑present threat of the revolutionary tribunals, the story paints a vivid portrait of ordinary people caught in extraordinary times.
Amid the clamor of crowds and the shifting allegiances of neighbors, she must decide where her loyalties lie—between family, friends, and the ideals that promise liberty. The novel weaves in the era’s customs, from assignats to the fall of the Bastille, giving listeners a rich sense of the period without requiring prior knowledge. As the first act unfolds, listeners are drawn into a world where hope and fear walk side by side, and every choice carries weight.
Full title
Madame Thérèse Introduction and notes by Edward Manley
Language
fr
Duration
~5 hours (301K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Curtis Weyant, jnam and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
Release date
2007-07-10
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

Best known as the shared pen name of two French writers, this literary duo turned regional history, folklore, and everyday life in Alsace-Lorraine into vivid novels and plays. Their stories were widely read in the 19th century and often blend humor, patriotism, and sharp social observation.
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