The Eaglet

Rostand, Edmond, 1868-1918Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

4.1

Word count: 246K words
Chapters: 25

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.L'Aiglon by Edmond RostandAuthor: Rostand, Edmond, 1868-1918,Language: English, Class: PQ: Language and Literatures: Romance literatures: French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Release Date: Sep 17, 2009

Editor's review

L'Aiglon is a historical verse drama by French playwright Edmond Rostand, centered on the young Duke of Reichstadt, son of Napoleon. Continuing the Romantic style Rostand displayed in Cyrano, it uses ornate, musical dialogue to portray a boy trapped by identity and fate: he longs for his father's glory yet knows he cannot escape the political chessboard. The conflict lies between court intrigue and inner struggle, with a strong sense of staging that rewards reading with the imagination's stage in mind. This Project Gutenberg edition is an English electronic text, convenient for searching and excerpting, and suited to readers interested in French Romantic drama, Napoleonic-era history, or theatrical literature. Note the rhythm of the verse lines and the layers of the monologues, and compare the historical background to understand the play's choices between fact and fiction. It is not light entertainment but better suited to readers willing to read slowly and savor the language and tragic atmosphere.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Literary readers interested in French Romantic drama and verse dialogue
History enthusiasts curious about the fate of Napoleon's son through drama
Students needing an English play text for coursework or translation practice
Stage-drama audiences who enjoy monologues and court intrigue

Not a good fit for

Casual readers seeking light, fast-paced fiction
Beginners impatient with verse dialogue and long monologues
Nonfiction readers wanting only popular history of the Napoleonic era

Reading tips

Read the character list and historical background first to clarify court relationships.
Read long monologues aloud as stage lines to feel Rostand's verse rhythm and emotional build.
After each act, briefly restate the central conflict to keep the main thread clear amid dense dialogue.
Consult biographies of Napoleon II to distinguish historical fact from the playwright's artistic invention.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is this book a novel or a play?

It is a historical play by Edmond Rostand, written in verse dialogue, so reading it feels more like following a stage performance than reading a narrative novel.

Can readers with weak English handle this edition?

This is an English electronic text, and the verse lines and long monologues demand some language ability. If your English reading is not strong, learn the plot summary and historical background first, then read slowly act by act.

Do I need to know Napoleonic history beforehand?

Not systematically, but knowing the basic situation of Napoleon's son, the Duke of Reichstadt, helps. The play involves court politics and family fate, and a little background significantly lowers the difficulty.

Comments

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About the author

Rostand, Edmond, 1868-1918 Author

Edmond Rostand (1868–1918) was a French poet and playwright known for his verse dramas. His masterpiece, Cyrano de Bergerac, portrays a brilliant swordsman-poet who is ashamed of his appearance; with witty dialogue, romantic plotting and a blend of comedy and tragedy, it became one of the most frequently performed works in French theatre history. His other plays, including L'Aiglon and Chantecler, often draw on history or fable, featuring ornate language, strong rhythm and a preference for heroism and self-sacrifice. The library holds thirteen of his works, including various editions and foreign-language translations of these plays. Public information on his early education, official posts and awards is limited, so no speculation is offered here; his influence lies chiefly in the continuation of the verse-drama tradition and the wide circulation of the character Cyrano.