Chicot the Jester


Read by John Van Stan

(4.3 stars; 112 reviews)

This sequel to Dumas' “Marguerite de Valois” begins four years after the sudden death of King Charles IX and succession of his brother Henry III. The reign of King Henry III was plagued with rebellion and political intrigue due to the War of the Three Henries, where his regency was challenged by King Henry of Navarre (leader of the Huguenots) and Henry I, Duke of Guise (leader of the Catholic League). Dumas weaves two main storylines through this turbulent backdrop: one of the love ignited between le Comte de Bussy and la Dame de Monsoreau, and another of the friendship between King Henry III and his truly unique jester, Chicot (Jean-Antoine d'Anglerais). - Summary by jvanstan

Chapters

Select a chapter to play

The wedding of St. Luc 24:46 Read by John Van Stan
How it is not always he who opens the door, who enters the house 14:00 Read by John Van Stan
How it is sometimes difficult to distinguish a dream from the reality 9:55 Read by John Van Stan
How Madame de St. Luc had passed the night 9:19 Read by John Van Stan
How Madame de St. Luc passed the second night of her marriage 9:56 Read by John Van Stan
Le petite coucher of Henri III 9:12 Read by John Van Stan
How, without anyone knowing why, the king was converted before the next day 9:37 Read by John Van Stan
How the king was afraid of being afraid 11:10 Read by John Van Stan
How the angel made a mistake and spoke to Chicot, thinking it was the king 9:01 Read by John Van Stan
How Bussy went to seek for the reality of his dream 13:22 Read by John Van Stan
M. Bryan de Monsoreau 21:06 Read by John Van Stan
How Bussy found both the portrait and the original 8:47 Read by John Van Stan
Who Diana was 26:09 Read by John Van Stan
The treaty 14:13 Read by John Van Stan
The marriage 10:49 Read by John Van Stan
The marriage (continued) 11:04 Read by John Van Stan
How Henri III. traveled, and how long it took him to get from Paris to Fontainebleau 8:09 Read by John Van Stan
Brother Gorenflot 17:41 Read by John Van Stan
How Chicot found out that it was easier to go in than out of the abbey 10:54 Read by John Van Stan
How Chicot, forced to remain in the abbey, saw and heard things very dangerous to see and hear 21:05 Read by John Van Stan
How Chicot learned genealogy 9:49 Read by John Van Stan
How M. and Madame de St. Luc met with a traveling companion 10:05 Read by John Van Stan
The old man 10:58 Read by John Van Stan
How Remy-le-Haudouin had, in Bussy's absence, established a communication with the Rue St. Antione 6:17 Read by John Van Stan
The father and daughter 10:26 Read by John Van Stan
How Brother Gorenflot awoke, and the reception he met with at his convent 7:48 Read by John Van Stan
How Brother Gorenflot remained convinced that he was a somnambulist, and bitterly deplored this infirmity 6:51 Read by John Van Stan
How Brother Gorenflot traveled upon an ass, named Panurge, and learned many things he did not know before 5:50 Read by John Van Stan
How Brother Gorenflot changed his ass for a mule, and his mule for a horse 5:47 Read by John Van Stan
How Chicot and his companion installed themselves at the Hotel of the Cross, and how they were received by the host 7:26 Read by John Van Stan
How the monk confessed the advocate, and the advocate the monk 10:32 Read by John Van Stan
How Chicot used his sword 10:53 Read by John Van Stan
How the Duc D'Anjou learned that Diana was not dead 9:02 Read by John Van Stan
How Chicot returned to the Louvre, and was received by the King Henri III. 8:38 Read by John Van Stan
What passed between M. de Monsoreau and the Duke 9:30 Read by John Van Stan
Chicot and the King 9:35 Read by John Van Stan
What M. de Guise came to do at the Louvre 6:11 Read by John Van Stan
Castor and Pollux 10:38 Read by John Van Stan
In which it is proved that listening is the best way to hear 8:15 Read by John Van Stan
The evening of the League 7:20 Read by John Van Stan
The Rue de la Ferronnerie 9:17 Read by John Van Stan
The Prince and the friend 9:10 Read by John Van Stan
Etymology of the Rue de la Jussienne 11:26 Read by John Van Stan
How D'Epernon had his doublet torn, and how Chomberg was stained blue 9:20 Read by John Van Stan
Chicot more than ever King of France 11:00 Read by John Van Stan
How Chicot paid a visit to Bussy, and what followed 11:52 Read by John Van Stan
The chess of M. Chicot, and the cup and ball of M. Quelus 8:13 Read by John Van Stan
The reception of the chiefs of The League 7:38 Read by John Van Stan
How the King annexed a chief who was neither the Duc de Guise nor M. D'Anjou 8:51 Read by John Van Stan
Eteocles and Polynices 10:41 Read by John Van Stan
How people do not always lose their time by searching empty drawers 7:43 Read by John Van Stan
Ventre St. Gris 7:08 Read by John Van Stan
The friends 6:55 Read by John Van Stan
Bussy and Diana 10:07 Read by John Van Stan
How Bussy was offered three hundred pistoles for his horse, and parted with him for nothing 6:21 Read by John Van Stan
The diplomacy of the Duc D'Anjou 8:15 Read by John Van Stan
The ideas of the Duc D'Anjou 15:45 Read by John Van Stan
A flight of Angevins 6:45 Read by John Van Stan
Roland 4:55 Read by John Van Stan
What M. de Monsoreau came to announce 5:26 Read by John Van Stan
How the King learned the flight of his beloved brother, and what followed 9:05 Read by John Van Stan
How, as Chicot and the Queen Mother were agreed, the King began to agree with them 9:24 Read by John Van Stan
In which it is proved that gratitude was one of St. Luc's virtues 8:57 Read by John Van Stan
The project of M. de St. Luc 9:03 Read by John Van Stan
How M. de St. Luc showed M. de Monsoreau the trust that the King had taught him 6:44 Read by John Van Stan
In which we see the Queen Mother enter the town of Angers, but not triumphantly 7:08 Read by John Van Stan
Little causes and great effects 7:36 Read by John Van Stan
How M. de Monsoreau opened and shut his eyes, which proved that he was not dead 7:47 Read by John Van Stan
How M. le Duc D'Anjou went to Meridor to congratulate Madame de Monsoreau on the death of her husband, and found him there before him 9:16 Read by John Van Stan
The inconvenience of large litters and narrow doors 8:23 Read by John Van Stan
What temper the King was in when St. Luc reappeared at the Louvre 6:21 Read by John Van Stan
In which we meet two important personages whom we have lost sight of for some time 5:22 Read by John Van Stan
Diana's second journey to Paris 7:08 Read by John Van Stan
How the ambassador of the Duc D'Anjou arrived at the Louvre, and the reception he met with 5:39 Read by John Van Stan
Which is only the end of the preceding one 6:29 Read by John Van Stan
How M. de St. Luc acquitted himself of the commission given to him by Bussy 8:24 Read by John Van Stan
In what respect M. de St. Luc was more civilized than M. de Bussy, the lessons which he gave him, and the use which M. de Bussy made of them 6:53 Read by John Van Stan
The Precautions of M. de Monsoreau 7:30 Read by John Van Stan
A visit to the house at Les Tournelles 8:37 Read by John Van Stan
The watchers 10:01 Read by John Van Stan
How M. le Duc D'Anjou signed, and after having signed, spoke 16:35 Read by John Van Stan
A promenade at the Tournelles 4:03 Read by John Van Stan
In which Chicot sleeps 4:37 Read by John Van Stan
Where Chicot wakes 8:59 Read by John Van Stan
The Fete Dieu 8:52 Read by John Van Stan
Which will elucidate the previous chapter 13:00 Read by John Van Stan
The procession 7:20 Read by John Van Stan
Chicot the First 7:50 Read by John Van Stan
Interest and capital 8:24 Read by John Van Stan
What was passing near the Bastille while Chicot was paying his debt to Y. de Mayenne 7:20 Read by John Van Stan
The assassination 19:06 Read by John Van Stan
How Brother Gorenflot found himself more than ever between a gallows and an abbey 9:02 Read by John Van Stan
Where Chicot guesses why D'Epernon had blood on his feet and none in his cheeks 8:26 Read by John Van Stan
The morning of the combat 4:59 Read by John Van Stan
The friends of Bussy 9:21 Read by John Van Stan
The combat 6:18 Read by John Van Stan
The end 10:35 Read by John Van Stan

Reviews

Great reader for English translation of French classic


(5 stars)

I chose to listen to an English translation, thus I didn’t care about the minimal French words (a few words per chapter). Great reader! Maybe other reviewers should listen to French versions of this book?

Intrigue and suspense, oh my!


(5 stars)

This is a wonderful text. It started out a bit slow, but more and more I was pulled into the story and found myself wondering what would happen to each set of friends. Chicot, Gorenflot, and Penerga the mule are my favorite characters. This story definitely made me look into the history of Chicot, and I was not disappointed by that, either. Enjoy!


(5 stars)

I agree with another viewer. People who are bothered by incorrect French pronunciations should listen to the book in French.

good book


(3.5 stars)

good and interesting. note to the negative, the reader has a poor French accent. I.e. mispronounced French words.

delightfull


(5 stars)

Passion, betrayal, politics, romance, honor, greed and mischievous plot. Perfectly well read by John. Highly recommended.

love this book


(4.5 stars)

this book by Alexander Dumas is my 5th favorite some people say his books were too long but that's how long books were in the 1800's and they are Alexandre Dumas was poor and lived a horrendous life which is not true when Alexandre Dumas died he had a net worth around about 6 million dollars which was a lot back then and he lived a luxurious lifestyle

VERY ENGROSSING


(5 stars)

Dumas never fails to entertain. Van Stan never fails to narrate superbly. France was fortunate that Henri of Navarre was available!

great story. fantastic narration !


(5 stars)

Enjoyed this story both for the content & style & also for the excellent narration !