The Lady of the Camellias

This is the hauntingly romantic story of Marguerite Gautier, a Parisian courtesan who falls in love with a young man of modest means. Set in the glittering mid-19th century of the French Empire, it evokes scenes of sumptuous feasts and riotous entertainments amid the swirling milieu of sophisticated Parisian society. The story begins when the narrator, Armand Duval, tells how he met the beautiful young temptress at a theatrical performance. With determination Armand pursues the flirtatious Marguerite and manages to capture her heart...with tragic consequences for both. Alexandre Dumas explores the twisted logic of two diametrically opposed lifestyles brought together in love, the impact on family and friends, and the internal stresses such an affair is bound to produce. With remarkable skill, Dumas takes us on a breathtaking tour of Paris at its sparkling height at the time of emperor Louis Napoleon. When The Lady of the Camellias first appeared in 1847, it caused an immediate sensatio