Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    Monsieur Beaucaire
    Monsieur Beaucaire
    Monsieur Beaucaire
    Ebook79 pages55 minutes

    Monsieur Beaucaire

    By Booth Tarkington

    3/5

    ()

    Switch to audiobook
    Read preview
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherArchive Classics
    Release dateJan 1, 1915
    Author

    Booth Tarkington

    Booth Tarkington (1869 - 1946) was an American novelist and dramatist, known for most of his career as “The Midwesterner.” Born in Indianapolis, Indiana, Tarkington was a personable and charming student who studied at both Purdue and Princeton University. Earning no degrees, the young author cemented his memory and place in the society of higher education on his popularity alone—being familiar with several clubs, the college theater and voted “most popular” in the class of 1893. His writing career began just six years later with his debut novel, The Gentleman from Indiana and from there, Tarkington would enjoy two decades of critical and commercial acclaim. Coming to be known for his romanticized and picturesque depiction of the Midwest, he would become one of only four authors to win the Pulitzer Prize more than once for The Magnificent Ambersons (1918) and Alice Adams (1921), at one point being considered America’s greatest living author, comparable only to Mark Twain. While in the later half of the twentieth century Tarkington’s work fell into obscurity, it is undeniable that at the height of his career, Tarkington’s literary work and reputation were untouchable.

    Read more from Booth Tarkington

    Related to Monsieur Beaucaire

    Related ebooks

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      The Art Of Conversation

      Nov 1, 2023

      The Art Of Conversation
      4 min read

    • Article

      Stranger Than Fiction

      Apr 12, 2024

      Stranger Than Fiction
      5 min read

    • Article

      Hello, Grim Reaper

      Dec 15, 2021

      She was a babe. A fully paid-up, card-carrying babe. There was absolutely no doubt about it, and she was heading straight for me. She was almost sprinting towards me across the recently reimagined lobby of Claridge’s. She looked up, her scarlet-anoin

      3 min read

    • Article

      Two in One

      Aug 31, 2017

      Two in One
      3 min read

    • Article

      Typewriter

      Aug 2, 2021

      Chère Madame. Vous ne vous rappelleriez pas de moi, mais de ma part… Tap-tap-tap-tap-tap. Tap-tap-tap-tap-tap-tap… She flicks the return bar – PING – and her fingers fall back into rhythm. Catherine’s French comes as naturally as the movement of her

      5 min read

    • Article

      Une Affaire Dangereuse

      Feb 1, 2018

      Une Affaire Dangereuse
      10 min read

    • Article

      Marco

      Mar 1, 2022

      THE ALLEY STANK . Marco could feel the damp soaking into his tunic as he pressed his back against the wall, trying to seem like part of the shadows. He cursed himself. How could he have been so stupid? He knew if he stayed out after dark they might f

      6 min read

    • Article

      An Inspired Theft

      Jan 9, 2018

      An Inspired Theft
      3 min read

    • Article

      Barry's Last Words

      May 31, 2023

      Barry's Last Words
      4 min read

    • Article

      La Otra Historia

      Jun 30, 2022

      La Otra Historia
      14 min read

    • Article

      Last Orders

      Jul 28, 2021

      Last Orders
      5 min read

    • Article

      Vladimir

      May 22, 2022

      Vladimir
      4 min read

    • Article

      Return Of The Bores

      Mar 9, 2022

      All bores are boring but not all boring people are bores. There are plenty of innocent folk who like nothing more than to share their anxieties about the village fête with you – and they’ll do it for 20 minutes you’ll never get back. Yet these are ju

      3 min read

    • Article

      Letter Books

      May 18, 2023

      Letter Books
      10 min read

    • Article

      The Bob Monkhouse Guide to Orgies

      Feb 7, 2024

      Well done, King Charles, for making us all more prostate-aware. I have been personally prostate-conscious for many years, thanks to one of the kings of comedy, the late, great Bob Monkhouse, who died of prostate cancer, aged 75, in December 1973. Bob

      3 min read

    • Article

      My Interiors Life: Weaned On The Small Screen

      Nov 25, 2021

      FOR ME, IT WAS ALL DOWN TO what I saw on the box (which was a lot) — and this extended too to the arenas of action: a fantastic littering of such beautiful and extraordinary interiors, not one of which had I ever set foot in, nor even so much as glim

      9 min read

    • Article

      A summons FROM AUNTIE

      Jan 25, 2023

      ‘I know a fat old policeman, he’s always on our street,’ sang Mr Dear at the top of what I suppose we must call his voice. ‘A large and jolly red-faced man, he really is a treat.’ Then, suddenly, the only sounds were the gentle hum of the engine, th

      3 min read

    • Article

      Every Hair Casts a Shadow

      Sep 12, 2023

      “They didn’t even choose an interesting battle to commemorate,” Víctor said. “My God, who cares about sinking some British merchant ships—it’s not like it helped them win the war.” He’d removed the lid from the jar of candies we offer to children who

      20 min read

    • Article

      No-go Britain!

      Apr 11, 2024

      BACK in February, Conservative MP PAUL SCULLY ruffled more than a few Liberal Elite feathers by referring to various culturally diverse districts in Britain as ‘no-go areas’. The member for Sutton and Cheam was rabidly set upon by the snowflake Loony

      11 min read

    • Article

      Confessions Of A Boggart Hunter

      Feb 24, 2022

      Seven or eight years ago I started to read compulsively about an English folk monster, the boggart. Studies, writing, articles and surveys followed. I launched my Boggart Census in 2019 in Fortean Times (more of which below) and there are now two boo

      14 min read

    • Article

      Confessions Of A Boggart Hunter

      Feb 24, 2022

      Seven or eight years ago I started to read compulsively about an English folk monster, the boggart. Studies, writing, articles and surveys followed. I launched my Boggart Census in 2019 in Fortean Times (more of which below) and there are now two boo

      14 min read

    • Article

      Paris Was Yesterday

      Mar 10, 2021

      THE lane between the farm and the village was still half underwater, so my husband, jabbed weeks ago, insisted on driving me to the village hall in his pickup truck. We loaded up like an old couple going on a day trip to the seaside, me with a Thermo

      4 min read

    • Article

      Life In The past Lane

      Aug 27, 2021

      Life In The past Lane
      5 min read

    • Article

      Bulletproof – Shootout In Runda, Namibia 1989

      Feb 17, 2023

      Obie Oberholzer: “The sound of the gunshots was deafening. Deadly thuds of bullets smashing into Ouma Roos Cloete's head, a ricocheting madness of cordite, flying glass from smashed booze bottles, a downpour of brandy, vodka and whisky. I was awakene

      4 min read

    • Article

      Grey Pride

      Oct 12, 2018

      Grey Pride
      15 min read

    Reviews for Monsieur Beaucaire

    3/5

    2 ratings2 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 3/5
      107. Monsieur Beaucaire by Booth Tarkington (read fall of 1942) I claim to have at least a semblance of a review posted for every book I have read. I just noticed there was not a review posted for this book, which I read as a freshman in high school. That is 70 years ago and before I systematically kept notes on books I have read. However, I do recall I was not enthused by this book. Its prime quality was that it was not a big book and took l little time to read.
    • 3/5
      A fairly tepid story that was a bit predictable.....my least favorite aspect of this was the written French accent of the main character and the constant references to characters social standing which was can also be confusing if you are not familiar with that social structure.....quite different from the one Tarkington novel i have read set in the midwest US....will be anxious to read all the others on the shelf!

    Book preview

    Monsieur Beaucaire - Booth Tarkington

    The Project Gutenberg EBook of Monsieur Beaucaire, by Booth Tarkington

    This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with

    almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or

    re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included

    with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org

    Title: Monsieur Beaucaire

    Author: Booth Tarkington

    Release Date: February 25, 2006 [EBook #1983]

    Last Updated: December 10, 2012

    Language: English

    *** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE ***

    Produced by An Anonymous Volunteer and David Widger

    MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE

    by Booth Tarkington

    Contents

    Chapter One

    The young Frenchman did very well what he had planned to do. His guess that the Duke would cheat proved good. As the unshod half-dozen figures that had been standing noiselessly in the entryway stole softly into the shadows of the chamber, he leaned across the table and smilingly plucked a card out of the big Englishman's sleeve.

    Merci, M. le Duc! he laughed, rising and stepping back from the table.

    The Englishman cried out, It means the dirty work of silencing you with my bare hands! and came at him.

    Do not move, said M. Beaucaire, so sharply that the other paused. Observe behind you.

    The Englishman turned, and saw what trap he had blundered into; then stood transfixed, impotent, alternately scarlet with rage and white with the vital shame of discovery. M. Beaucaire remarked, indicating the silent figures by a polite wave of the hand, Is it not a compliment to monsieur that I procure six large men to subdue him? They are quite devote' to me, and monsieur is alone. Could it be that he did not wish even his lackeys to know he play with the yo'ng Frenchman who Meestaire Nash does not like in the pomp-room? Monsieur is unfortunate to have come on foot and alone to my apartment.

    The Duke's mouth foamed over with chaotic revilement. His captor smiled brightly, and made a slight gesture, as one who brushes aside a boisterous insect. With the same motion he quelled to stony quiet a resentful impetus of his servants toward the Englishman.

    It's murder, is it, you carrion! finished the Duke.

    M. Beaucaire lifted his shoulders in a mock shiver. What words! No, no, no! No killing! A such word to a such host! No, no, not mur-r-der; only disgrace! He laughed a clear, light laugh with a rising inflection, seeming to launch himself upon an adventurous quest for sympathy.

    You little devilish scullion! spat out the Duke.

    "Tut, tut! But I forget. Monsieur has pursue' his studies of deportment amongs' his fellow-countrymen.

    Do you dream a soul in Bath will take your word that I—that I—

    That M. le Duc de Winterset had a card up his sleeve?

    You pitiful stroller, you stableboy, born in a stable—

    Is it not an honor to be born where monsieur must have been bred?

    You scurvy foot-boy, you greasy barber, you cutthroat groom—

    Overwhelm'! The young man bowed with imperturbable elation. M. le Duc appoint' me to all the office' of his househol'.

    You mustachioed fool, there are not five people of quality in Bath will speak to you—

    No, monsieur, not on the parade; but how many come to play with me here? Because I will play always, night or day, for what one will, for any long, and always fair, monsieur.

    You outrageous varlet! Every one knows you came to England as the French Ambassador's barber. What man of fashion will listen to you? Who will believe you?

    All people, monsieur. Do you think I have not calculate', that I shall make a failure of my little enterprise?

    Bah!

    Will monsieur not reseat himself? M. Beaucaire made a low bow. So. We must not be too tire' for Lady Malbourne's rout. Ha, ha! And you, Jean, Victor, and you others, retire; go in the hallway. Attend at the entrance, Francois. So; now we shall talk. Monsieur, I wish you to think very cool. Then listen; I will be briefly. It is that I am well known to be all, entire' hones'. Gamblist? Ah, yes; true and mos profitable; but fair, always fair; every one say that. Is it not so? Think of it. And—is there never a w'isper come to M. le Duc that not all people belief him to play always hones'? Ha, ha! Did it almos' be said to him las' year, after when he play' with Milor' Tappin'ford at the chocolate-house—

    You dirty scandal-monger! the Duke burst out. I'll—

    Monsieur, monsieur! said the Frenchman. "It is a poor valor to insult a helpless captor. Can he retort upon his own victim? But it

    Enjoying the preview?
    Page 1 of 1