A Romance of the West Indies

"A Romance of the West Indies" by Eugène Sue is a novel written in the late 19th century. The story begins in 1690, featuring a diverse cast of characters, including a resourceful priest named Father Griffen and a flamboyant adventurer, the Chevalier de Croustillac. The narrative sets off on an adventurous path as the characters navigate plots involving wealth, deception, and mysterious figures, such as the enigmatic Blue Beard, rumored to be a wealthy widow with a dark past. The opening of the novel introduces the protagonist, Father Griffen, who embarks on a sea journey to Martinique aboard the Unicorn, amidst growing tensions in the Caribbean. As the story unfolds, we meet the Chevalier de Croustillac, who cunningly smuggles himself onto the ship, revealing himself as a bold and ambitious man in search of fortune and adventure. Croustillac's interest in the riches of Blue Beard and the complex dynamics aboard the ship set the stage for a thrilling exploration of romance, danger, and intrigue in the West Indies. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Marie-Joseph "Eugène" Sue was a French novelist. He was one of several authors who popularized the genre of the serial novel in France with his very popular and widely imitated The Mysteries of Paris, which was published in a newspaper from 1842 to 1843.