The Black Tulip

The Black Tulip (La Tulipe noire) is a less well-known historical novel by Alexandre Dumas, seasoned with irony, humor, love and obsession.


The story begins with a historical event, the 1672 lynching of the Dutch Grand Pensionary Johan de Witt and his brother Cornelis, by a wild mob of their own countrymen. From political intrigues Dumas takes the reader to a completely different setting. We meet the godson of the unfortunate brothers, Cornelius, who is devoted to the cultivation of tulips. When the successful breeder of a black tulip is promised a generous cash prize, Cornelius joins the contest. But success brings jealousy and Cornelius has a secret enemy, who does not shy away from dirty tricks to remove his rivals...