The Black Tulip
Encyclopedia
The Black Tulip is a historical novel
written by Alexandre Dumas, père
.
of the Dutch Grand Pensionary
(roughly equivalent to a modern Prime Minister
) Johan de Witt
and his brother Cornelis
, by a wild mob of their own countrymen — considered by many as one of the most painful episodes in Dutch history, described by Dumas with a dramatic intensity.
The main plot line, involving fictional characters, takes place in the following eighteen months; only gradually does the reader understand its connection with the killing of the de Witt brothers.
The city of Haarlem
, Netherlands
has set a prize
of 100,000 guilders to the person who can grow a black tulip
, sparking competition between the country's best gardeners to win the money, honour and fame. The young and bourgeois Cornelius van Baerle has almost succeeded, but is suddenly thrown into the Loevestein
prison
. There he meets the prison guard's beautiful daughter Rosa, who will be his comfort and help, and at last his rescuer.
The novel was originally published in three volumes in 1850 as La Tulipe Noire by Baudry (Paris).
. King of England.
Louis XIV, King of France.
Cornelius de Witt, inspector of dikes at the Hague
.
Johan de Witt
, his brother, Grand Pensionary of Holland.
Colonel van Deeken, aide-de-camp to William of Orange.
Dr. Cornelius van Baerle, a tulip
-fancier, godson of Cornelius de Witt.
Mynheer Isaac Boxtel, his rival.
Marquis de Louvois.
Count Tilly, Captain of the Cavalry of the Hague
.
Mynheer Bowelt, deputy.
Mynheer d'Asperen, deputy.
The Recorder of the States.
Master van Spenser, a magistrate
at Dort
.
Tyckalaer, a surgeon at the Hague
.
Gerard Dow.
Mynheer van Systens, Burgomaster of Haarlem
and President of its Horticultural Society
.
Craeke, a confidential servant of John de Witt.
Gryphus, a jailer.
Rosa, his daughter, in love with Cornelius van Baerle.
and Frank Richardson. Alex Bryce
directed a well-regarded UK adaptation of the novel in 1937, with Patrick Waddington
as Cornelus Van Baerle. A 5-part BBC
miniseries
debuted in August 1956 with Douglas Wilmer
in the lead role. A second British miniseries appeared in September 1970. In 1988 Australia
's Burbank
production company created a 50-minute children's animated film from a bowdlerised version of the story.
In 1963 a movie called La Tulipe noire
with actor Alain Delon
was produced in France
, but was not based on the novel. There was also a short Finnish
documentary made by Pacho Lane in 1988 called The Black Tulip, but it told the story of Soviet soldiers fighting in Afghanistan
.
Historical novel
According to Encyclopædia Britannica, a historical novel is-Development:An early example of historical prose fiction is Luó Guànzhōng's 14th century Romance of the Three Kingdoms, which covers one of the most important periods of Chinese history and left a lasting impact on Chinese culture.The...
written by Alexandre Dumas, père
Alexandre Dumas, père
Alexandre Dumas, , born Dumas Davy de la Pailleterie was a French writer, best known for his historical novels of high adventure which have made him one of the most widely read French authors in the world...
.
Plot
The story begins with a historical event — the 1672 lynchingLynching
Lynching is an extrajudicial execution carried out by a mob, often by hanging, but also by burning at the stake or shooting, in order to punish an alleged transgressor, or to intimidate, control, or otherwise manipulate a population of people. It is related to other means of social control that...
of the Dutch Grand Pensionary
Grand Pensionary
The Grand Pensionary was the most important Dutch official during the time of the United Provinces. In theory he was only a civil servant of the Estates of the dominant province among the Seven United Provinces: the county of Holland...
(roughly equivalent to a modern Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
) Johan de Witt
Johan de Witt
Johan de Witt, heer van Zuid- en Noord-Linschoten, Snelrewaard, Hekendorp and IJsselveere was a key figure in Dutch politics in the mid 17th century, when its flourishing sea trade in a period of globalization made the United Provinces a leading European power during the Dutch Golden Age...
and his brother Cornelis
Cornelis de Witt
Cornelis de Witt was a Dutch politician.-Biography:Cornelis de Witt was a member of the old Dutch patrician family De Witt. He was born on 15 June 1623 in Dordrecht, Holland, Dutch Republic...
, by a wild mob of their own countrymen — considered by many as one of the most painful episodes in Dutch history, described by Dumas with a dramatic intensity.
The main plot line, involving fictional characters, takes place in the following eighteen months; only gradually does the reader understand its connection with the killing of the de Witt brothers.
The city of Haarlem
Haarlem
Haarlem is a municipality and a city in the Netherlands. It is the capital of the province of North Holland, the northern half of Holland, which at one time was the most powerful of the seven provinces of the Dutch Republic...
, Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
has set a prize
Prize
A prize is an award to be given to a person or a group of people to recognise and reward actions or achievements. Official prizes often involve monetary rewards as well as the fame that comes with them...
of 100,000 guilders to the person who can grow a black tulip
Tulip
The tulip is a perennial, bulbous plant with showy flowers in the genus Tulipa, which comprises 109 species and belongs to the family Liliaceae. The genus's native range extends from as far west as Southern Europe, North Africa, Anatolia, and Iran to the Northwest of China. The tulip's centre of...
, sparking competition between the country's best gardeners to win the money, honour and fame. The young and bourgeois Cornelius van Baerle has almost succeeded, but is suddenly thrown into the Loevestein
Loevestein
Castle Loevestein is a medieval castle built by the knight Dirc Loef van Horne between 1357 and 1397....
prison
Prison
A prison is a place in which people are physically confined and, usually, deprived of a range of personal freedoms. Imprisonment or incarceration is a legal penalty that may be imposed by the state for the commission of a crime...
. There he meets the prison guard's beautiful daughter Rosa, who will be his comfort and help, and at last his rescuer.
The novel was originally published in three volumes in 1850 as La Tulipe Noire by Baudry (Paris).
Characters
William, Prince of Orange, afterward William IIIWilliam III of England
William III & II was a sovereign Prince of Orange of the House of Orange-Nassau by birth. From 1672 he governed as Stadtholder William III of Orange over Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and Overijssel of the Dutch Republic. From 1689 he reigned as William III over England and Ireland...
. King of England.
Louis XIV, King of France.
Cornelius de Witt, inspector of dikes at the Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
.
Johan de Witt
Johan de Witt
Johan de Witt, heer van Zuid- en Noord-Linschoten, Snelrewaard, Hekendorp and IJsselveere was a key figure in Dutch politics in the mid 17th century, when its flourishing sea trade in a period of globalization made the United Provinces a leading European power during the Dutch Golden Age...
, his brother, Grand Pensionary of Holland.
Colonel van Deeken, aide-de-camp to William of Orange.
Dr. Cornelius van Baerle, a tulip
Tulip
The tulip is a perennial, bulbous plant with showy flowers in the genus Tulipa, which comprises 109 species and belongs to the family Liliaceae. The genus's native range extends from as far west as Southern Europe, North Africa, Anatolia, and Iran to the Northwest of China. The tulip's centre of...
-fancier, godson of Cornelius de Witt.
Mynheer Isaac Boxtel, his rival.
Marquis de Louvois.
Count Tilly, Captain of the Cavalry of the Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
.
Mynheer Bowelt, deputy.
Mynheer d'Asperen, deputy.
The Recorder of the States.
Master van Spenser, a magistrate
Magistrate
A magistrate is an officer of the state; in modern usage the term usually refers to a judge or prosecutor. This was not always the case; in ancient Rome, a magistratus was one of the highest government officers and possessed both judicial and executive powers. Today, in common law systems, a...
at Dort
Dordrecht
Dordrecht , colloquially Dordt, historically in English named Dort, is a city and municipality in the western Netherlands, located in the province of South Holland. It is the fourth largest city of the province, having a population of 118,601 in 2009...
.
Tyckalaer, a surgeon at the Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
.
Gerard Dow.
Mynheer van Systens, Burgomaster of Haarlem
Haarlem
Haarlem is a municipality and a city in the Netherlands. It is the capital of the province of North Holland, the northern half of Holland, which at one time was the most powerful of the seven provinces of the Dutch Republic...
and President of its Horticultural Society
Horticultural society
A horticultural society is an organization devoted to the study and culture of cultivated plants. Such organizations may be local, regional, national, or international...
.
Craeke, a confidential servant of John de Witt.
Gryphus, a jailer.
Rosa, his daughter, in love with Cornelius van Baerle.
Memorable Quotes
"Sometimes one's sufferings have been so great that one need never say, 'I am too happy." Cornelius de Witt.Film
The first screen adaptation appears to have been a silent 1921 Dutch-UK co-production directed by Maurits BingerMaurits Binger
Maurits Binger was a Dutch film director, producer and screenwriter of the silent era. He directed 39 films between 1913 and 1922 and is considered one of the pioneers of fictional films in the Netherlands...
and Frank Richardson. Alex Bryce
Alex Bryce
Alex Bryce was a British screenwriter, cinematographer and film director.-Selected filmography:Director* Sexton Blake and the Mademoiselle * Wedding Group * Servants All * The End of the Road...
directed a well-regarded UK adaptation of the novel in 1937, with Patrick Waddington
Patrick Waddington
Patrick Waddington was an English actor, educated at Gresham's School, Holt, Norfolk. Born and died in York, England.-Filmography:*Department S: Who Plays the Dummy? - NATO General...
as Cornelus Van Baerle. A 5-part BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
miniseries
Miniseries
A miniseries , in a serial storytelling medium, is a television show production which tells a story in a limited number of episodes. The exact number is open to interpretation; however, they are usually limited to fewer than a whole season. The term "miniseries" is generally a North American term...
debuted in August 1956 with Douglas Wilmer
Douglas Wilmer
-Early life:Wilmer was born in London and educated at King's School, Canterbury and Stonyhurst College. He trained at RADA but was called up to the Army in World War II. Posted to an antitank battery in the Royal West African Frontier Force, he was invalided out after he acquired tuberculosis. He...
in the lead role. A second British miniseries appeared in September 1970. In 1988 Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
's Burbank
Burbank Films Australia
Burbank Films Australia was an Australian animation-production company that in a span of eight years produced over thirty different animated films...
production company created a 50-minute children's animated film from a bowdlerised version of the story.
In 1963 a movie called La Tulipe noire
La Tulipe noire
La tulipe noire was only loosely based on the novel of the same name by Alexandre Dumas. It was basically a star vehicle for the popular French actor Alain Delon.-Synopsis:...
with actor Alain Delon
Alain Delon
Alain Fabien Maurice Marcel Delon is a French actor. He rose quickly to stardom, and by the age of 23 was already being compared to French actors such as Gérard Philipe and Jean Marais, as well as American actor James Dean. He was even called the male Brigitte Bardot...
was produced in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, but was not based on the novel. There was also a short Finnish
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
documentary made by Pacho Lane in 1988 called The Black Tulip, but it told the story of Soviet soldiers fighting in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
.
External links
- The Black Tulip full text at Google Books
- eLook Literature: The Black Tulip - HTML version broken down chapter by chapter.