Book Description

Under the Red Robe is an 1894 historical novel by Stanley J. Weyman, described as his best known book and greatest success.It is set in seventeenth-century France during the ascendency of Cardinal Richelieu, who appears as a character in the novel. In particular it portrays the events of the Day of the Dupes. The novel was adapted into a 1923 American silent film Under the Red Robe directed by Alan Crosland, [2] and was later made into a 1937 British swashbuckler film, Under the Red Robe, directed by Victor Sjostrom. The novel was well received by contemporary historical novelists. Conan Doyle wrote that Under the Red Robe had "the most dramatic opening of any historical novel I know," and Robert Louis Stevenson commented favourably both on the first chapter and on the surprise which the author keeps to the very end. Siegfried Sassoon in his autobiography described his excitement as a schoolboy on first reading a copy. Half a century after its publication, Roger Lancelyn Green characterized the novel as having no dull moment. Stanley John Weyman (7 August 1855 - 10 April 1928) was an English novelist sometimes referred to as the "Prince of Romance."Weyman (pronounced "why-man") was born at Ludlow, Shropshire. The second son of a solicitor, he was educated at Shrewsbury School, and at Christ Church, Oxford. He took his degree in modern history in 1877, and was called to the bar at the Inner Temple in 1881, joining the Oxford circuit. He practised as a barrister for eight years until, in 1889, he wrote his first novel entitled The House of the Wolf. This was followed over the following two decades by the novels which were to make his reputation, among them historical romances set amidst the turmoil of 16th and 17th century France. (His entire output is discussed in the annotated bibliography included in the external links below.) He became a great traveller, sometimes in company with his fellow bestselling novelist Henry Seton Merriman. While for years his historical romances enchanted thousands of readers - Robert Louis Stevenson and Oscar Wilde were among the enthusiasts - but today his books are largely neglected. Graham Greene was a great admirer of Weyman, whom he mentions several times in his Collected Essays. In a BBC interview in 1970, Greene said, "I made a collection once of what I called the key books in my life, which included Anthony Hope, Rider Haggard, Captain Gilson, ... and I do occasionally re-read them. Stanley Weyman in particular."