Gabrielle de Bergerac

"Gabrielle de Bergerac" by Henry James is a story set during the lead-up to the French Revolution, focusing on love, societal expectations, and personal goals. Mlle. de Bergerac is at the center of the story, along with those around her such as her nephew, the Chevalier, and Gaston de Treuil, who seeks her hand in marriage. A conversation between the narrator and the Baron de Bergerac introduces the reader to this world, with the aunt, Mlle. de Bergerac, playing a central role in his memories. The story includes other key characters, such as Pierre Coquelin, the tutor, and blends humor and sadness as it looks at the everyday experiences of life in the French countryside. As the story unfolds, expect complicated love and social standing issues shaped by the historical events facing them.