
In the bright summer of 1790 a five‑year‑old crown prince wanders the modest garden of the Tuileries, his tiny hands busy pulling weeds and planting seedlings while a troop of National Guard soldiers watches politely from the trellis. He greets the guards with a shy apology for his limited space, then shares a handful of fresh flowers, a simple gesture that softens even the bearded militia. His tutor, the kindly Abbé Daveaux, observes the boy’s earnest labor and bright smile, noting the delicate balance between play and the demands of royal education.
Beyond the garden’s gentle rhythms, the story unfolds against the gathering storm of the French Revolution, hinting at the stark contrast between the prince’s innocent world and the looming upheaval. Through vivid scenes and tender moments, the narrative paints a portrait of a child whose brief life becomes entwined with one of history’s most turbulent eras, inviting listeners to reflect on the fragile humanity caught in the currents of change.
Language
en
Duration
~2 hours (168K characters)
Series
Life Stories for Young People
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by D A Alexander, Stephen Hutcheson, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive)
Release date
2020-07-15
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1814–1882
A hugely prolific 19th-century German storyteller, he wrote adventure tales, historical fiction, and books for young readers that helped make him widely read in his time. His life also included work as a bookseller and publisher, which kept him close to the world of books from every angle.
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