From A Bibliography of Alexandre Dumas père by Frank Wild Reed: A story of the unrest in Germany during the supremacy of Napoleon. A thoroughly good tale, which however suffers somewhat in reputation owing to the inferiority and over-lengthiness of its sequel "Dieu Dispose." Period 1810-11.
Apparently no collaborator is claimed for this romance, which moreover is replete with Dumas' stamp.
Original edition: Paris, Cadot, 4 vols., 8vo., yellow wrappers, 1850-51. As was by no means infrequent with Dumas' original editions, not all copies were dated alike (was it because they were bound up in small parcels as required?). An edition of this work is before me dated 1852 as regards the first three volumes and 1853 as regards the fourth, yet in all respects they agree with the description of originals. (1).
(1) Compare pp. 255, 281 and particularly the quotation from M. Parran on page 272, as regards these erratic datings of original editions. Other instances could be cited.
Vol. I., pp. 319 and table of contents.
Vol. II.. pp. 319 and table of contents.
Vol. III., pp. 323 and table of contents.
Vol. IV., pp. 353 and table of contents.
"Le Trou de l'Enfer" ends with page 164 of Vol. IV., which is then completed by the "Chronique de Charlemagne" (see page 144).
An illustrated edition was issued : Paris, Lecrivain et Toulon, 1 vol., 4to., 1861.
This work now forms one volume in the standard Calmann-Lévy edition, one in their illustrated series, and one in their "Musée Littéraire."
In Le Vasseur's "Alexandre Dumas Illustré" it forms part of Vol. XVI.
References :— Parran: "Bibliographie d'Alex. Dumas," pp. 58-59. Glinel: "Alexandre Dumas et Son Œuvre," page 425.
English Translations :—
"The Mouth of Hell;" London, Methuen, sewed, 1906.
"The Devil's Hole," probably American.
From A Bibliography of Alexandre Dumas père by Frank Wild Reed: (CLXXII.) Chapter I., three four-line stanzas, rhyming a, b, b, a.
