L'homme au Masque de Fer

L'homme au Masque de Fer, a drama in 5 acts and in prose, by Narcisse Fournier and Auguste Arnouldt

The original text

First performed in Paris 1831. Odéon-Théâtre de l'Europe, France (Odéon-Théâtre de l'Europe) - 03-08-1831

L' homme au masque de fer : drame en cinq parties et en prose ; représenté pour la première fois, à Paris, sur le Théâtre Royal de l'Odéon, le 3 août 1831 / par Arnould et N. Fournier. Published in Paris by Barba, 1831.

Translations and adaptations

Adapted from the French (most likely L'homme au Masque de Fer, a drama in 5 acts and in prose, by Narcisse Fournier and Auguste Arnouldt, based on the novel by Alexander Dumas), by W.J. Lucas, it is described as a work in which each epoch contains "a distinct and thrilling phase in this most extraordinary man's life, until his murder in the Bastile, sternly corroborated by facts and documents seized during its demolition by the infuriated people."

First performed in English at the Royal Pavilion Theatre, London, on 30 January, 1832, with the title The Man with the Iron Mask, or The Royal Twins and published by T.H. Lacy as The Man with the Iron Mask: in Four Epochs in 1850 and Samuel French, 1864.

However, there is little indication of the French source for his adaptation. It is quite possible that the source was in fact not French, but German, namely Die Eiserne Larve ("The iron mask") a German tragedy in five acts by Heinrich Szchokke (1771-1848)[1].

Originally performed as The Man with the Iron Mask, or The Royal Twins and published as The Man with the Iron Mask: in Four Epochs The Man with the Iron Mask is a play by William James Lucas ()[]

Another translation, by Frank J Morlock, was published in 2001. by Natick, MA : Rogue Pub.,