French Literature Reviews - 2026
A. Dumas, La Reine Margot, Drama (ed. S. Ledda)
Theatre and Performance
Bibliographic reference: Dumas (Alexandre), La Reine Margot - Drame, Classiques Garnier, "Bibliothèque du XIXe siècle" collection, 2015. EAN13: 9782812434730.
Dumas (Alexandre), La Reine Margot - Drame
978-2-8124-3473-0
448 p.
29 €
On February 20, 1847, Alexandre Dumas inaugurated the Théâtre-Historique with the premiere of La Reine Margot. Adapted from the novel, which opens with the St. Bartholomew's Day massacre, the play reimagines the destiny of Marguerite de Valois, depicting her tragic passion against a backdrop of conspiracy and murderous struggles for power.
Alexandre Dumas adapted his own successful historical novel for the stage to inaugurate the Théâtre-Historique in Paris, bringing the turbulent events of the French Wars of Religion to a dramatic public audience. Set against the backdrop of the St. Bartholomew's Day massacre, the narrative centers on Marguerite de Valois, known as Queen Margot, whose life becomes entangled in deadly political conspiracies, court intrigue, and tragic romance. This critical edition published by Classiques Garnier offers scholars and literature enthusiasts an opportunity to examine nineteenth-century theatrical conventions, melodrama, and the complex relationship between novelistic prose and dramatic performance in French romanticism.
This volume belongs to the Bibliothèque du XIXe siècle collection, making it a valuable resource for students and researchers of nineteenth-century French literature and drama. Sylvain Ledda's scholarly editing provides essential context for understanding how Dumas transformed his sprawling historical narrative into a viable stage spectacle. Readers interested in the history of the Parisian stage, romantic dramaturgy, and representations of sixteenth-century French royalty will find this scholarly edition particularly illuminating for exploring the intersection of popular literature and nineteenth-century theatrical culture.