
A lively satire set in the bustling world of mid‑nineteenth‑century society, the story follows a cast of schemers who treat marriage like a factory line. Barbedor, a rough‑handed yet oddly sentimental figure, finds himself tangled in a web of favors, threats, and whispered deals, while the flamboyant Garnier and the calculating Marquise de Sainte‑Croix add their own twists. The opening scenes crackle with quick‑fire dialogue and a mix of street‑wise slang and aristocratic pretense, drawing the listener into a world where a single newspaper clipping can shift fortunes.
As the characters juggle cigars, counterfeit promises, and a mysterious article about a government investigation, the narrative spins a comedic yet sharp critique of how personal ambition fuels the marriage market. Listeners will be treated to a parade of witty betrayals, sudden bursts of violence, and the ever‑present tension between loyalty and self‑interest. The tone remains brisk and humorous, promising an entertaining glimpse into the machinations of a society that treats love as a commodity.
Language
fr
Duration
~3 hours (205K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Claudine Corbasson, Vinciane Knappenberg and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries)
Release date
2011-11-24
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1817–1887
A master of 19th-century French popular fiction, he filled newspapers and bookshelves with fast-moving adventures, mysteries, and swashbuckling intrigue. He is especially remembered for helping shape the modern cloak-and-dagger tale, including the long-running world of Lagardère.
View all books
by Paul Féval

by Paul Féval

by Paul Féval

by Paul Féval

by Paul Féval

by Paul Féval

by Paul Féval

by Paul Féval