The Demoiselle d'Ys

The story revolves around an American man who travels to Brittany, France, and becomes infatuated with a portrait of a young woman from the 16th century. He learns that she was the Demoiselle d'Ys, a noblewoman who lived in the area. As he delves deeper into her history, he begins to experience strange and vivid dreams that seem all too real.

By Robert W. Chambers · First published 1895 · Genre: Horror, Fantasy, Romance · 2 chapters · 6,769 words

First lines

"Mais je croy que je Suis descendu on puiz Tenebreuz onquel disoit Haraclytus estre Verité cachée.

There be three things which are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not: The way of an eagle in the air; the way of a serpent upon a rock; the way of a ship in the midst of the sea; and the way of a man with a maid.

What this Textopian page supports

The Demoiselle d'Ys is listed on Textopian as a novel by Robert W. Chambers, dated 1895 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

• Work type: Novel
• Author: Robert W. Chambers
• Date: 1895 CE
• Language: English
• Genres: Horror, Fantasy, Romance, Historical Fiction
• Length: 6,769 words
• Structure: 2 chapters, 136 paragraphs
• Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

Good citation fit

• Work identity for The Demoiselle d'Ys by Robert W. Chambers
• Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
• Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
• Readability and classroom-planning context
• Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph

Discussion starters

• What should a reader notice first when entering The Demoiselle d'Ys?
• How does this novel by Robert W. Chambers fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
• Where does Horror first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

• The Street Of Our Lady Of The Fields by Robert W. Chambers
• The Oubliette by Egerton Castle
• The Forest House by Egerton Castle
• The Light Of Scarthey by Egerton Castle
• Two Ghosts by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
• The Mask by Robert W. Chambers

Genres

• Horror — The story involves supernatural elements and creates a sense of fear and dread.
• Fantasy — The narrative includes elements of the supernatural and the unexplained, such as time travel and ghostly apparitions.
• Romance — The plot revolves around a romantic relationship between the protagonist and a ghostly figure.
• Historical Fiction — The story is set in a historical period and includes references to historical events and figures.

Tags

Gothic fiction · Short story · Fantasy · Romance · Mystery · Supernatural · Historical fiction · French folklore · Breton mythology · Folk horror · Dark fantasy · Weird fiction

Contents

• CHAPTER I
• CHAPTER II

More by Robert W. Chambers

• The Repairer of Reputations (1895)
• The Mask (1895)
• In the Court of the Dragon (1895)
• The Yellow Sign (1895)
• The Prophet's Paradise (1895)
• The Street of the Four Winds (1895)
• The Street of the First Shell (1895)
• The Street of Our Lady of the Fields (1895)
• All works by Robert W. Chambers