| Author |
Balzac, Honoré de, 1799-1850 |
| Translator |
Wormeley, Katharine Prescott, 1830-1908 |
| Title |
El Verdugo
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| Note |
Reading ease score: 70.0 (7th grade). Fairly easy to read.
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| Credits |
Produced by John Bickers, and Dagny, and David Widger
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| Summary |
"El Verdugo" by Honoré de Balzac is a historical novella written in the early 19th century. The story unfolds during a time of political turmoil in Spain and centers around themes of honor, duty, and moral conflict amidst war. It captures the experiences of a young French officer and the tragic fate of a noble Spanish family caught in the throes of conflict and revenge. The narrative begins with Victor Marchand, a young French officer, who, while meditating on the terrace of a Spanish chateau, unwittingly becomes embroiled in a violent uprising. Following the tragic murder of his comrades, he finds himself in a precarious position where the local noble family, the Leganés, faces wrath from the French military. As General G--t--r demands punishment for the family, Victor attempts to negotiate mercy for them, revealing the complex interplay of love, loyalty, and honor. Ultimately, the story culminates in a heart-wrenching execution, where familial loyalty is tested to its limits, leading to tragic choices that haunt the survivors. The exploration of compassion within the brutal reality of war raises profound questions about morality, sacrifice, and the consequences of allegiance. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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| Language |
English |
| LoC Class |
PQ: Language and Literatures: Romance literatures: French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese
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| Subject |
French fiction -- Translations into English
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| Category |
Text |
| EBook-No. |
1425 |
| Release Date |
Nov 2, 2005 |
| Most Recently Updated |
Apr 4, 2013 |
| Copyright Status |
Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads |
89 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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