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Cover of Henry of Guise; or, The States of Blois (Vol. 1 of 3)

Henry of Guise; or, The States of Blois (Vol. 1 of 3)

by G. P. R. James (?–1860)

  • Free to read
  • 4 hours to read
  • 16 chapters
  • Reading level: 8th & 9th grade

"Henry of Guise; or, The States of Blois (Vol. 1 of 3)" by G. P. R. James is a historical novel written in the early 19th century. The book explores the life and ambitions of Henry Duke of Guise during a tumultuous time in the late 16th century, with a strong focus on themes of power, nobility, and the complex dynamics of personal relationships in a feudal society. Key characters introduced include the Duke himself, alongside his younger brother Gaspar de Montsoreau and Charles de Montsoreau, as well as the intriguing Mademoiselle de Clairvaut. The opening of the novel sets a dark and atmospheric scene, describing a gloomy morning in southern France where a man is seen searching the woods, hinting at the hunt that will soon commence. As the narrative unfolds, we are introduced to a group of noblemen preparing for a boar hunt, positioning the impending action against a backdrop of political intrigue and conflict. The eldest lord among them, the Abbé de Boisguerin, emerges as a significant figure, mentoring the young noblemen and guiding them through the complexities of their lives. Intriguingly, the arrival of female guests brings an additional layer of tension and romance, as Mademoiselle de Clairvaut captures the attention of both brothers, suggesting that personal stakes will soon intertwine with the larger historical narrative.

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  • Guise, Henri, duc de, 1550-1588

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The States of Blois

It was as dark and sombre a morning, the sky was as gloomy, the earth as dry and parched, as earth, sky, and morning ever appear in the most northern climates. A dull grey expanse of leaden cloud shut out the blue heaven, a hard black frost pinched up the ground, the blades of grass stood stiff and rugged on the frozen soil, and vague grey mists lay in all the hollows of the ground. The forests, the manifold forests that then spread over the fair land of France, showed nothing but bare branches, except where here and there the yoke-elm or tenacious beech retained in patches its red and withered leaves, while beneath the trees again, the ground was thickly carpeted with the fallen honours of the past summer, mingled with hoar frost and thin snow. A chilliness more piercing than mere frost pervaded the air; and the aspect of the whole scene was cheerless and melancholy.

Such was the aspect of the day, though the scene was in the south of France, at a spot which we shall leave for the present nameless, when at about seven o'clock in the morning—an hour in which, at that period of the year, the sun's rays are weak and powerless—a tall, strong, florid man of about four-and-thirty years of age was seen upon the edge of a wide wood walking along cautiously step by step, carefully bending down his eyes upon the withered leaves that strewed his path, as if he had dropped something of value which he sought to find.

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Contents

  1. Front Matter
  2. The States of Blois
  3. Chap. II
  4. Chap. III
  5. Chap. IV
  6. Chap. V
  7. Chap. VI
  8. Chap. VII
  9. Chap. VIII
  10. Song
  11. Chap. IX
  12. Chap. X
  13. Chap. XI
  14. Chap. XII
  15. Chap. XIII
  16. End of the First Volume

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About this edition

This free edition of Henry of Guise; or, The States of Blois (Vol. 1 of 3) by G. P. R. James comes from Project Gutenberg eBook #39411, released 2012-04-09. It is in the public domain in the United States, so you can read it here in full at no cost, on any phone, tablet or computer. Genre: Historical Novels, Novels.

Summary provided by Project Gutenberg (automatically generated).

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