A romantic novel (with moments of both tragedy and comedy) on the general
theme of jealousy, set in the countryside outside Paris in 1838-39. In
Amaury, Dumas attempts an artistic dissection of jealousy, but all his
characters keep turning into Alexandre Dumas, (who finds jealousy an
unworthy emotion) and rise above it. Amaury is also of interest as
Dumas' sole attempt at an epistolary novel, a form that (as this book
shows) Dumas found uncongenial, since he kept abandoning the epistolary
format for straight narration, and all of the letters read as if written by
the same person, which, of course, they were.
As the novel opens, a group of French aristocrats are conversing, and one
of them asks the question, "Meurt-on d'amour?" Does one die of love? In
response, one them pulls forth a manuscript that purports to be the diary
and letters of the family of the deceased M. d'Avrigny, widower and court
physician to the King. The novel is nominally composed of the diary and
letters being read aloud.
Amaury de Leoville, young, and wealthy, and orphaned, is beginning his
career in the French diplomatic service. Amaury was raised by M.
d'Avrigny, a friend of his late father, along side d'Avrigny's frail blonde
daughter, Madeleine, and yet another orphan, the vigorous dark-haired
Antoinette.
Amaury has fallen in love with Madeleine, while both Madeleine and
Antoinette have fallen in love with Amaury. Amaury asks M. d'Avrigny for
Madeleine's hand, is summarily refused and thrown out of his childhood
home, because, as M. d'Avrigny confides to his diary, he is jealous of
Madeleine's love for Amaury. After a perfunctory chapter of anguish, M.
d'Avrigny decides he is being unreasonable and permits the wedding.
Unfortunately, Madeleine is dying of consumption (tuberculosis), so the
wedding never occurs. Madeleine infers that Antoinette also loves Amaury,
and, jealous of her rude good health, subjects Antoinette to assorted
undeserved slights. After a perfunctory chapter of anguish, Madeleine
decides she is being unfair, and begs Antoinette's forgiveness, which
Antoinette of course grants.
Dumas vividly describes Madeleine's decline and death, and the extravagant
grief which inflicts her father, lover, and cousin. Amaury plans suicide,
but is dissuaded. M. d'Avrigny deteriorates in grief and solitude. Amaury
travels on his diplomatic mission, and corresponds with Antoinette, who
swears she will never marry. However, M. d'Avrigny decides that it forms
part of his parental duty to find a good match for Antoinette, and asks
Amaury, on his return, to act as Antoinette's guardian in the event of his
(expected) death. Two presentable suitors are rustled up, a young Marquis
and Amaury's friend Philip.
From tragedy, Dumas manages a swift transition to comedy. Amaury has,
without being aware of it, fallen in love with Antoinette (who has always
loved Amaury), and the finds the two suitors highly objectionable. When
Philip appears to be finding favor with Antoinette, Amaury challenges
Philip to a duel. Philip accepts the challenge, despite never having
touched either sword or pistol. The duel ends in farce when Philip
inadvertently shoots off the hat of Amaury's second. The second, enraged,
shoots off Philip's hat, and everyone decides that they have behaved
unreasonably.
M. d'Avrigny gives his blessing and then dies, Amaury and Antoinette marry
and live happily ever after. Dumas concludes (I think) that it is better
to live for love than to die for it.
