From A Bibliography of Alexandre Dumas père by Frank Wild Reed: A drama in five acts with a prologue, the whole occupying thirteen tableaux.
By Alexandre Dumas and Auguste Maquet.
Dumas was already familiar with the case of Grandier, having written an article upon him for the fourth volume of his "Crimes Célèbres."
In this piece he has allowed his fancy and imagination to have free rein. Gautier says of it : "Here, without contradiction, is the most handsome and the most pompous spectacle which the Théâtre Historique has offered us since its opening. Imagine the most interesting story, joined to a most splendid stage setting . . . We restrict ourselves to the statement that from the point of view of the entertaining play, Alexandre Dumas has produced nothing more successful than 'Urbain Grandier' since and including 'La Tour de Nesle.' " It may be remarked that this praise is a little excessive.
First performed at the Théâtre Historique on the 30th of Mardi, 1850.
Original edition : Paris. Marchant, 1850, 8vo. of two columns, forming part of the "Magasin Théâtral."
It is now to be found in Vol. XI. of the 15 Vol. edition, and in Vol. XVII. of that in 25 Vois. issued by Calmann-Lévy.
References :— Parran: "Bibliographie d'Alex. Dumas," page 32. Glinel: "Alexandre Dumas et Son Oeuvre." page 424. Lecomte: "Alexandre Dumas," page 119. Gautier: "Art Dramatique," Série VI., pp. 160-62.
From A Bibliography of Alexandre Dumas père by Frank Wild Reed: (CLXVII.) Prologue, Tableau III., Scene i., four four-line stanzas, rhyming a, b, a, b.
