Histoire du chevalier des Grieux et de Manon LescautSet in France and Louisiana in the early 18th century, the story follows the hero, the Chevalier des Grieux, and his lover, Manon Lescaut. Des Grieux comes from a noble and landed family, but forfeits his hereditary wealth and incurs the disappointment of his father by running away with Manon. In Paris, the young lovers enjoy a blissful cohabitation, while Des Grieux struggles to satisfy Manon's taste for luxury. He scrounges together money by borrowing from his unwaveringly loyal friend Tiberge and by cheating gamblers. On several occasions, Des Grieux's wealth evaporates (by theft, in a house fire, etc.), prompting Manon to leave him for a richer man because she cannot stand the thought of living in penury. The two lovers finally end up in New Orleans, to which Manon has been deported as a prostitute, where they pretend to be married and live in idyllic peace for a while. But when Des Grieux reveals their unmarried state to the Governor and asks to be wed with Manon, the Governor's nephew sets his sights on winning Manon's hand. In despair, Des Grieux challenges the Governor's nephew to a duel and knocks him unconscious. Thinking he had killed the man and fearing retribution, the couple flee New Orleans and venture into the wilderness of Louisiana, hoping to reach an English settlement. Manon dies of exposure and exhaustion the following morning and, after burying his beloved, Des Grieux is eventually taken back to France by Tiberge. |
Contents
Préface | 7 |
Avis de lauteur des Mémoires dun homme | 21 |
Deuxième partie | 109 |
Copyright | |
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Common terms and phrases
ajouta-t-il ajoutai-je amant Amiens amour Amsterdam archers assez avais aventure bois de Boulogne c'était carrosse cause Chaillot chambre charmante Châtelet chevalier des Grieux chose Cicéron Ciel Cleveland cœur connaissance consoler cruel crus demandai demeure désespoir désordre dessein dis-je disais-je dit-il douleur faisait fille fortune fût garde du corps général de Police générale des voyages Havre Henri COULET heures heureux Histoire honnête j'ai J'allai j'aurais j'avais j'en j'étais j'eusse jamais jeune G jour l'abbé Prévost l'amour l'avait l'Hôpital laisser larmes lettres anglaises liberté Lieutenant général Liévin m'assura m'avait m'écriai-je m'en m'étais maîtresse malheur Manon Lescaut ment mille misère moi-même monsieur Monsieur B n'avait n'était Nouvel Orléans nuit parler parut passer passion peine pensée père plaisir pleurs porte pouvait prendre priai quitter raison répondit repris-je résolution reste retourner rien s'était Saint-Denis Saint-Lazare secours sentiments serait seul sort souper Synnelet tendre tendresse tendresse ordinaire Tiberge tranquille triste trouver venait voulait yeux