The man behind the iron mask - Softcover

NOONE, John

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0750906790 ISBN 13: 9780750906791

Publisher: Sutton Publishing, 1994

Synopsis

For more than 300 years the legend of "the man in the iron mask" has held a place on the stage of human enquiry and debate. From the time of his incarceration during the reign of Louis XIV right through to modern day the awful fate of the man condemned to live a lifetime with his face encased in iron has inspired, depending on the era, anger, horror, pity and fascination. The author presents all the known facts of the prisoner's existence chronologically as they have been discovered, together with all the myths that have flourished, from the preposterous stories put about by his gaoler in 1669 to the famous legend immortalized in the 19th century by Alexander Dumas, and on into modern times with the supposed discovery of his skeleton in an old tower in Cannes in 1977. As the prospective candidates, including the twin brother of Louis XIV, the Duke of Monmouth, Richard Cromwell, Moliere, Nicholas Fouquet, an Armenian archbishop, an Italian astrologer and the mysterious Eustache Dauger, are brought before the reader's attention.

About this title

About the Author

John Noone lectured for ten year in the Universities of Alexandria and Kyoto before writing his first novel, The Man with the Chocolate Egg.

Review

“A highly readable account . . . So wild, at times lurid, are the many twists of plot . . . that there is something to satisfy all tastes in the history of this powerfully tenacious French obsession.” ―The New York Times Book Review

“Highly enjoyable.” ―Today

“. . . The ultimate book on the prisoner who enthralled millions . . . An engrossing non-fiction tale of mystery, money, greed, intrigue, cover-up and myth.” ―The Trenton Times

Edition details

• Publisher: Sutton Publishing
• Publication date: 1994
• ISBN 10: 0750906790
• ISBN 13: 9780750906791
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English