The Mysteries of Paris, illustrated with etchings, Vol. 1

"The Mysteries of Paris" by Eugène Sue is a novel that pulls back the curtain on the hidden world of 19th-century Paris. The story follows Rodolph, an enigmatic man with a shadowed history, as he navigates the dangerous streets of the city and becomes a protector for the vulnerable. One rainy night, Rodolph steps in to rescue La Goualeuse, a young woman fighting to survive in the grim and crime-ridden Cité, from a dangerous man. As Rodolph displays exceptional strength, an unlikely friendship begins between the two. The beginning of unfolds in the dark corners of Paris, where survival is a daily battle, friendships are tested, and every charater has unknown motives for the reader to figure out.