L'homme au Masque de Fer
L'homme au Masque de Fer refers to the true story of an unidentified prisoner who was held in a number of French prisons for a 34 years, from his arrest in 1668/9 to his death in 1703[].
The intriguing story of this prisoner became the focus a number serious studies over the years, as well as the inspiratiuon for a number fictional versions of the tale. One of the most celebrated and influential fictional versions of the tale is the novel Le Vicomte de Bragelonne (1847) by Alexander Dumas ()[], which in turn led to various dramatizations of the tale for stage3 and film. (See "The Man in the Iron Mask" in Wikipedia for example.[1])
Contents
The original story
The title refers to the true story of an unidentified prisoner who was held in a number of French prisons for a 34 years, from his arrest in 1668/9 to his death in 1703[], which was the source ands ispiration for a number studies and of fictional stories and dramatic works. One of the most celebrated and influential versions of the tale is the novel Le Vicomte de Bragelonne (1847) by Alexander Dumas ()[],
Translations and adaptations
L'homme au Masque de Fer ("The man in the iron mask"), a drama in 5 acts and in prose, by Narcisse Fournier (1803–1880) [2] and Auguste Arnouldt (1803–1854)[3]
Adapted from the French by W.J. Lucas, it was 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 (no author named). Published by T.H. Lacy as The Man with the Iron Mask: in Four Epochs in 1850 (and Samuel French, 1864), now now ascribed to Lucas and containing the description "Each epoch containing a distinct and thrilling phase in this most extraordinary man's life, until his murder in the Bastile [sic], sternly corroborated by facts and documents seized during its demolition by the infuriated people."
The translation is often referred to simply as The Man with the Iron Mask. Also found as The Man in the Iron Mask
Another English translation, with the same title, was done by Frank J Morlock and published in Natick, MA by Rogue Publishers in 2001.
A German version of the basic tale, Die Eiserne Larve ("The iron mask"), was written by Heinrich Szchokke (1771-1848)[4] in 1808.
Performance history in South Africa
1877: Performed as The Man with the Iron Mask (and ascribed to Lucas) in the Theatre Royal, Cape Town, by Disney Roebuck's company on 15 December, with Black-Eyed Susan (Jerrold).
Sources
Facsimile version of the French text of 1831, Google E-book[5]
Facsimile version of the French text by Barba of 1831, Google E-book[6]
http://data.bnf.fr/39499252/l_homme_au_masque_de_fer_spectacle_1831/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auguste_Arnould
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narcisse_Fournier
http://www.elta-project.org/browse.html?recordId=1204
Transcript version of the Thomas Hailes Lacy text, The Victorian Plays Project[7]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man_in_the_Iron_Mask
https://nikigukirozedaga.libraryonding.com/man-with-the-iron-mask-book-2696wb.php
F.C.L. Bosman. 1980. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel II, 1856-1912. Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik: pp.
William Groom. 1899-1900. Drama in Cape Town. Cape Illustrated Magazine, 10(4): 478-481, 517-520, 547-552, 580-584, 640-643, 670-672, 706-708.
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