Blue-beard: A Contribution to History and Folk-lore

This volume opens a fascinating window onto the man who inspired the Blue‑beard legend—a 15th‑century Breton noble known as Gilles de Retz. A gifted soldier who fought alongside Joan of Arc and later rose to the rank of Marshal of France, he retired to his estates with a reputation for both wealth and daring. The narrative then turns to his curious turn toward alchemy, where an Italian magician led him to pursue the fabled Elixir of Youth, a quest that soon took a dark turn.

Drawing on the author’s own research as U.S. consul in Nantes, the book weaves together original trial transcripts, photographs of historic sites, and detailed illustrations that bring the medieval world to life. Readers are led through the growing suspicion, the arrest, and the dramatic courtroom proceedings that sealed his fate, all while the line between fact and folklore blurs. The work offers a vivid portrait of a powerful figure whose ambition and alleged crimes sparked a legend that endures to this day.