The Last Vendée by Alexandre Dumas

Name: The Last Vendée
Author: Alexandre Dumas

The Last Vendée is a historical novel written by Alexandre Dumas, first published in 1847. The story takes place during the French Revolution and follows the adventures of a young nobleman named Jacques Stella, who becomes embroiled in the conflict between the royalists and the republicans. The novel explores themes of loyalty, honor, and betrayal as Stella navigates the treacherous political landscape of 18th-century France. Along the way, he encounters a cast of complex and intriguing characters, including a mysterious woman named Laure d'Azyr, who may hold the key to unlocking the secrets of the Vendée region. Through Stella's journey, Dumas offers a sweeping portrayal of French history during this tumultuous period, shedding light on the political and social upheavals that defined the era. The novel is known for its vivid descriptions of battle scenes, as well as its nuanced exploration of the human experience during times of conflict and revolution. Overall, The Last Vendée is a gripping and thought-provoking work of historical fiction that continues to captivate readers to this day.

By Alexandre Dumas · First published 1840 · Genre: Historical Fiction, Adventure, War · 60 chapters · 317,540 words

First lines

If you ever chanced, dear reader, to go from Nantes to Bourgneuf you must, before reaching Saint-Philbert, have skirted the southern corner of the lake of Grand-Lieu, and then, continuing your way, you arrived, at the end of one hour or two hours, according to whether you were on foot or in a carriage, at the first trees of the forest of Machecoul.

There, to left of the road, among a fine clump of trees belonging, apparently, to the forest from which it is separated only by the main road, you must have seen the sharp points of two slender turrets and the gray roof of a little castle hidden among the foliage.

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The Last Vendée is listed on Textopian as a novel by Alexandre Dumas, dated 1840 CE.

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Work type: Novel
Author: Alexandre Dumas
Date: 1840 CE
Language: English
Genres: Historical Fiction, Adventure, War, Romance
Length: 317,540 words
Structure: 77 chapters, 7,918 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

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Discussion starters

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Genres

Historical Fiction — Alexandre Dumas famously writes in the historical fiction genre and this book revolves around the historical event of the War in the Vendée.
Adventure — This book follows the adventurous journey of the protagonist within the historical setting, a common theme in Dumas's works.
War — The novel is centered on the Vendée War, depicting the conflict and military confrontations vividly.
Romance — Dumas often includes romantic subplots in his novels, and 'The Last Vendée' is no exception.