Le Cocu (Novels of Paul de Kock Volume XVIII)

"Le Cocu" by Paul de Kock is a novel written in the early 19th century. The book appears to explore themes of love, infidelity, and the complexities of human relationships in a comedic light. The opening portion introduces various characters in a reading room, establishing a lively setting filled with diverse personalities, including a jealous husband and his secretive wife, who are involved in an intricate love affair. The beginning of the novel sets the scene in a reading room where patrons engage with newspapers while waiting for their turn. Among them, a playful young woman requests a novel, showcasing her spirited personality. As the chapter unfolds, it introduces Bélan, a character entwined in romantic intrigues, who is in a state of distress after a close call with his lover's suspicious husband. This intricately woven narrative hints at both humor and societal commentary while establishing the social dynamics and the various romantic entanglements that will likely drive the plot forward. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Charles Paul de Kock was a French novelist. Although one of the most popular writers of his day in terms of book sales, he acquired a literary reputation for low-brow output in poor taste. In 2021 Brad Bigelow wrote: "Today, if we set aside over-priced print on demand reprints of his ancient editions, the works of Paul de Kock haven't seen a new English edition in at least a century."