The Bashful Lover (Novels of Paul de Kock Volume XIX)

"The Bashful Lover" by Paul de Kock is a novel written in the early 19th century. The story opens in 1818 during a wedding celebration, focusing on the peculiar union of Monsieur le Marquis de Grandvilain, who is nearing seventy, and Mademoiselle Aménaïde Dufoureau, who, at forty-four, has finally accepted him after years of mutual affection and resistance. The themes explored include the nature of love, age, and societal expectations, weaving humor with character exploration as the story unfolds. The opening of the novel introduces readers to the characters of the old marquis and his much younger bride, detailing their wedding festivities while providing insights into their backgrounds and emotional lives. Monsieur de Grandvilain, depicted as a once-charismatic figure now content in his advancing years, has finally chosen to marry Aménaïde, who has waited long for true affection. Through lively descriptions and wit, the scene sets the stage for their relationship dynamics, established years earlier but only now realized. As the narrative develops, it hints at the challenges they may face as older newlyweds and the societal implications of such a union. (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."