
A courtly world of 17th‑century France and Florence unfolds, where noble families, courtiers, and servants mingle in a web of duty and affection. We meet a grieving countess, her adopted daughter Helena, and the young count Bertram, who is bound by his mother’s wishes to serve the king. The atmosphere is thick with mourning, whispered hopes, and the lingering presence of a mysterious physician whose fame has reached even the royal ear.
When the French king falls gravely ill, the court turns to the celebrated doctor Gerard of Narbonne, whose reputation promises a cure. The king’s desperation sparks a pledge: the man who can restore his health may claim the hand of the beautiful Helena. As Bertram wrestles with his obligations and desires, the stage is set for a delicate dance of love, honor, and the quest to prove that “all’s well that ends well.
Language
fi
Duration
~2 hours (130K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2014-01-04
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1564–1616
Often called the greatest writer in the English language, this English playwright and poet created dramas and verses that still feel alive on the page and stage. His stories of ambition, love, jealousy, power, and loss continue to speak to readers centuries later.
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