The black tulipan

"The Black Tulp" of Alexander Duma is a great historical and adventurous novel of the master of French prose, offering the reader a surprisingly elegant, dramatic and bright story. Unlike the large-scale Musketeer chronicles, this book is a more cameral, poetic and touching story in which the political intrigues of the Golden Age of the Netherlands are intertwined with the azart of scientific search and the power of sincere love. The story takes place in the Netherlands of the 17th century, covered by a real madness, the "Tulpanomania."For the draw of an unprecedented flower, an absolute black tulipan without a single color spot, the Haarlem Garden Society proclaims a huge reward of a hundred thousand guilds. The young, rich and finite physician Cornelius van Berle fully devotes himself to this ambitious task. He is close to success, but his jealous and poor neighbor, Isaac Bokstel, is going to the fool: he strikes a false report, accusing Cornelius of state deceit. The scientist is thrown into the severe fortress of Levstein, and his precious black tulipans are threatened by destruction. The only rescue for Cornelius and his flower master becomes Rose, the beautiful and devote daughter of the prison supervisor. Together, overcoming the cruelty of guards and the deceit of jealous, they try to grow the miracle of nature right behind the prison grid. Duma created an amazingly harmonious work where dark shadows, political conspiracy and death sentences serve only as a contrast background for the celebration of beauty, patience and love. This is an incredibly dynamic and life-confirming book, which keeps the tension up to the very disconnection and reminds that the true passion for its work and the pure soul can overcome any injustice. ** About what the book in three words:** Flower, Jealousy, Love. All lovers of beautiful historical novels, lovers of the light and exciting style of Alexander Duma, as well as those looking for an inspiring and romantic story with a happy end.