6.6 /10 1 Votes
Country France Pages 388 | 3.3/5 Goodreads Language French Originally published 1893 Page count 388 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Original title La Rôtisserie de la reine Pédauque Original text La Rôtisserie de la reine Pédauque at French Wikisource Similar Works by Anatole France, Classical Studies books | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
At the Sign of the Reine Pédauque (French: La Rôtisserie de la reine Pédauque) is a historical novel by Anatole France, written in 1892 and published the next year. The novel tells of the tribulations of the young Jacques Ménétrier at the beginning of the 18th century. Its most important source is the 17th-century occult text Comte de Gabalis.
Summary
Jacques Ménétrier is the son of Léonard Ménétrier, leader of a brotherhood of roast-meat sellers. Somewhat educated by Brother Ange, a dissolute capucin, Jacques replaces the dog Miraut in his job of turning the spit on which the chickens roast. He is soon taken under the protection of Mr. Jérôme Coignard, an abbot, who rebaptises him "the learned Jacobus Tournebroche" and teaches him Latin and Greek. The two of them are hired by Mr. d'Astarac, an alchemist researching salamanders and sylphs in the works of ancient authors.
The rants of d'Astarac, the debauchery of Mr. d'Anquetil, and the vengeance of the uncle of the beautiful Jahel result in the happiness destined for the master and student, Jérôme and Jacques.