Chicot, the Jester; Diana of Meridor; The Lady of Monsoreau
roman/novel, pub:1845, action:1578-1579
This book is part of a trilogy (called the "Valois Romances") which consists
of the three novels: La Reine Margot, La dame de Monsoreau (The Lady of Monsoreau) Les Quarante-Cinq (The Forty Five or The Forty-Five Guardsmen)
It is one of the novels in which he collaborated with
Auguste Maquet.
It was made into a play.
Oeuvres/Related Works Chicot the Jester - New York, P. F. Collier & Son, n.d., The Works of Alexandre Dumas in Thirty Volumes (vol. 4), blue cloth, gilt spine Chicot, the Jester - New York, A. L. Burt, n.d., The Home Library, bef. 1911 Mahalin, Paul: La Fin de Chicot - Paris, Librairie illustrée, 1898
From A Bibliography of Alexandre Dumas père by Frank Wild Reed: Another of the very finest of Dumas' historical romances. It was composed in collaboration with Auguste Maquet.
It is often referred to as a sequel to "La Reine Margot," but it is not such save in that it follows fairly closely on the concluding year of the previous work, thus including many of the same historical characters.
It concerns the troubled times of Henri III, and the League, the king's "mignons" and the death of the most famous among them as well as that of Bussy d'Amboise. the only character in all Dumas' gallery who may possibly rival in popularity and splendour of portrayal d'Artagnan, is here first met with : Chicot, the king's gentleman-jester. The period is 1578-79.
It first appeared serially in "Le Constitutionnel," according to Dumas, in his preface to Grisier's "Armes et le Duel."
Original edition: Bruxelles, Méline Cans et Cie., 6 vols., 16mo, Vols. I and II 1845, Vols. III and IV 1846.
Original French edition: Paris, Pétion, 8 vols., 8vo, 1846. To complete the last volume the following previously published short stories were added: "Blanche de Beaulieu" and "Le Cocher de Cabriolet." (Refer to the "Souvenirs d'Antony," 1835.)
Second edition ; Paris. Michel Lévy Frères, 1847, 3 vols., 18mo.. English format.
An edition in large 4to. of two columns was published in 1847 by the journal "Le Siècle," as a bonus to subscribers.
First illustrated edition: Paris, Marescq et Cie., 4to., with illustrations by J. A. Beaucé, 1857.
An edition de luxe was issued by Calmann-Lévy in 1903, 2 vols., parchment wrappers, with 250 woodcuts by Maurice Leloir, engraved by J. Huyot.
Paris, Louis Conard, illustrated by woodcuts executed by Victor Dutertre from designs by Fred-Money, 1923—. In this series the work consists of three volumes.
In the standard Calmann-Lévy edition it now occupies three volumes, and one each in the same firm's illustrated series and "Musée Littéraire." In Le Vasseur's "Alexandre Dumas Illustré" it forms part of Vol. III.
Références :— Quérard: "Supercheries Littéraires Dévoilées," Vol. I., Columns 1111 to 1114. Parran: "Bibliographie d'Alex. Dumas," page 55.
Parigot: "Alexandre Dumas," pp. 125 : 130-39.
Parigot: "Alexandre Dumas et l'Histoire."—" Revue de Paris," 1902, No. 4, pp. 401-432. Blaze de Bury: "Alexandre Dumas," pp. 182-202.
Brantome: " Oeuvres."
L'Estoile: "Journal."
Chateau-Chalons (J. de): "La Vérité Historique sur la Dame de Montsoreau, le Sire de Montsoreau, Bussy d'Amboise et le Bouffon Chicot." 1888.
Mouton: "Bussy d'Amboise et Madame de Montsoreau;" Paris. Hachette, 1912.
Freer (M. W.): "Henry III., King of France and Poland;" London. Hurst and Blackett, 3 vois-, 8vo.. 1858.
Principal English Editions :—
"Chicot the Jester;" London, Clarke, 12mo., pp. 391, 1857.
"Chicot the Jester;" London, Routledge, 1869. This edition has been reprinted an innumerable number of times, and is now in their "Aramis Edition."
"La Dame de Monsoreau;" London, Dent, 2 vols., illustrated, cr. 8vo., 1894. Reprinted by the same firm, 2 vols. in one, 1907 and 1926.
"Chicot the Jester;" London, Walter Scott, with illustrations by F. T. Merrill, cr. 8vo., pp. ix., 810, 1901. (By far the most complete translation now in print.)
"Diane, Lady of Monsoreau;" London, Dicks, 7 illustrations, sewed, pp. 162,1901.
London, Methuen, a complete translation in three separately titled parts, each sewed. 1907 : "Chicot the Jester," "Dom Gorenflot," and "The Fatal Combat."
"Chicot the Jester;" London, Collins, a reprint of Routledge's edition, 13mo., illustrated, pp. 444, 1912.
From A Bibliography of Alexandre Dumas père by Frank Wild Reed: CHANT DE CHICOT. (CXXXIX.) Chapter XVII., four ten-line stanzas, rhyming a, b, b, a, c, c, d, e, e, d.
QUATRAIN DE CHICOT. (CXL.) Chapter XVII.
CHANT DE GORENFLOT. (CXLI.) Chapter XVIII., twelve lines, rhyming a, a, b, c, c, b, d, d, e, f. f, e.
CHANT DE GORENFLOT. (CXLII.) Chapter XXVII., eight lines, rhyming a, a, b, b, c, b, c, c. This is repeated in "Les Quarante-Cinq," Chapter XXI.
CHANT DE GORENFLOT. (CXLIII.) Chapter XXXI., ten lines, rhyming a, a, b, c, b, d, a, a, d, a.
QUATRAIN DE CHICOT. (CXLIV.) Chapter XXXIX.
CHANT DE GORENFLOT. (CXLV.) Chapter XL.
CHANT DE GORENFLOT. (CXLVI.) Chapter LXXXIII., rhyming a, b, b, a, c, d, c, c, d, d.
