RexLegendi reviewed The black tulip by E. L. James (Penguin classics)
Review of 'The black tulip' on 'Goodreads'
3 stars
Alexandre Dumas (1802-1870) is known for his historical novels. The most famous are set in France: [b:The Count of Monte Cristo|7126|The Count of Monte Cristo|Alexandre Dumas|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1611834134l/7126.SY75.jpg|391568] and [b:The Three Musketeers|10410265|The Three Musketeers (Vintage Classics)|Alexandre Dumas|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1349155274l/10410265.SY75.jpg|1263212]. For The Black Tulip, published in 1850, Dumas looked north: the story is set in 1672 in Holland, the western part of the Netherlands. This year is known in Dutch history as the ‘Rampjaar’ (Year of Disaster), during which the Republic was at war with England, France and two German principalities and came close to being overrun. Despite their successful politics, Grand Pensionary (raadpensionaris) Johan de Witt and his brother Cornelis were blamed for the misery and lynched by an angry mob that favoured Stadholder William III (who would also become king of England in 1689).
Embedded in this historical context, Dumas creates a fictional …
Alexandre Dumas (1802-1870) is known for his historical novels. The most famous are set in France: [b:The Count of Monte Cristo|7126|The Count of Monte Cristo|Alexandre Dumas|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1611834134l/7126.SY75.jpg|391568] and [b:The Three Musketeers|10410265|The Three Musketeers (Vintage Classics)|Alexandre Dumas|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1349155274l/10410265.SY75.jpg|1263212]. For The Black Tulip, published in 1850, Dumas looked north: the story is set in 1672 in Holland, the western part of the Netherlands. This year is known in Dutch history as the ‘Rampjaar’ (Year of Disaster), during which the Republic was at war with England, France and two German principalities and came close to being overrun. Despite their successful politics, Grand Pensionary (raadpensionaris) Johan de Witt and his brother Cornelis were blamed for the misery and lynched by an angry mob that favoured Stadholder William III (who would also become king of England in 1689).
Embedded in this historical context, Dumas creates a fictional story around tulip grower Cornelius van Baerle, godson of Cornelis de Witt. At the height of the Tulip mania, Cornelius is about to win a prestigious prize with his cultivated black tulip when his jealous neighbour Isaac turns him in to the authorities. Sent to prison for alleged treason, Cornelius fights for his life, love and reputation.
Dumas does not always stick to the facts. He shifts the Tulip mania (which occurred in the 1630s) back by half a century and confuses William III with William the Silent. A bigger drawback is that his characters remain superficial; Isaac, in particular, seems somewhat cartoonish. Then again, The Black Tulip is yet another exciting adventure. I appreciated how Dumas honours the 17th century love for flowers, especially tulips, as reflections of God and beauty. The disgraceful murder of the De Witt brothers also painfully illustrates how history repeats itself, particularly in relation to the attack on the US Capitol on January 6, 2021. Altogether, it was a pleasure to read this novel while on holiday in the Netherlands.
