The Real Bluebeard (edit title/settings)

Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit

Write a ridiculously simplified synopsis.

Characters/People edit see section history

• Gilles de Rais: The richest man in France, who fought at the side of the Maid of Orleans and was named Marshall of France at only 25 years of age
• Catherine de Thouars: Married Gilles after his family kidnapped her to force the issue
• La Hire: His name means "the anger" -- a rather ferocious soldier who fought with Gilles at the siege of Orleans
• Jeanne d'Arc: Called Joan in this book, she was known during her life as the Maid of Orleans, a peasant girl who was guided by invisible voices to take France back from the English and see that the Dauphin was crowned King of France
• Rene de la Suze: Gilles's brother
• Pierre Jacquet: Herald of arms and an accomplice of Gilles de Rais
• Charles VII: Declared illegitimate by his mother, disinherited by his father, he somehow got to be the King of France anyway
• Etienne Corillaut: The page of Gilles de Rais for 13 years and an accomplice
• Marie d'Avignon: May have predicted the rise of the Maid of Orleans and the French victory over the English
• Pope Pius II: Not convinced the Maid of Orleans was the real thing
• Francois Prelati: Alchemist on the payroll of Gilles de Rais
• Gilles de la Sille: Procured children and black-magic practitioners for Gilles de Rais
• Perrine Martin: Procured children for Gilles de Rais
• Georges de la Tremoille: A cousin of Gilles de Rais and Chamberlain of France
• Jean V: Duke of Brittany
• Jean de Malestroit: Bishop of Nantes
• Jean Labbe: An attorney on the case
• Jean de Craon: Gilles's grandfather
• Jean Blouyn: Inquisitor for the diocese
• Jean de Touscheronde: In charge of the enquiry into Gilles's activities
• Jean Sans Peur: Duke of Burgundy
• Jean de Berry: Uncle of the King of France
• Jean la Drappiere: Gilles's "milk brother," and later his personal chaplain
• Jean Tournemine de la Junandaye: Gilles's guardian for a while after his parents died
• Jean d'Aulon: The squire of the Maid of Orleans
• Jean Pasquerel: An Augustinian monk who accompanied the Maid of Orleans wherever she went
• Jean Caseau: Attorney for Gilles de Rais
• Jean de Reconin: Another attorney for Gilles de Rais
• Jean de la Riviere: Tried to raise the Devil for Gilles de Rais
• Jean Jouvenal: A Carmelite monk who heard Gilles's last confession
• Jean Petit: A goldsmith
• Jean Colon: Owned a tavern that figured in this story
• Jean de Beuil: An old adversary of Gilles de Rais

Quotes edit see section history

• “War is at best a kind of organised criminality, and heroes, frequently, psychopaths whose condition is suddenly found, in moments of crisis, to be useful.”

  Author

• “It is good to encourage him <Gilles de Rais> to be evil.”

  Georges de la Tremoille

• “Asked whether he had offered the Devil his soul, Gilles replied that he had not. It was something he consistently refused to do.”

  Author

• “He returned to his old habits like a dog to his vomit.”

  Author

First Sentence edit see section history

Series & Lists edit see section history

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

1. Jean Benedetti (Author)

Notes for Parents edit see section history

A tiny bit gruesome for more sensitive readers.

Subjects edit see section history

• Books › Nonfiction › Crime & Criminals › Criminology
• Books › History › World › Medieval
• Books › Biographies & Memoirs › Historical
• Books › History › Europe

More Books Like This edit see section history

Books with Additional Background Information edit see section history

Books Cited by This Book edit see section history