The Memoirs of a Physician

What It's About

Set in the final decades of the French monarchy, this is the opening novel in Dumas's Marie Antoinette Romances. It centers on Joseph Balsamo — better known to history as the self-styled Count Cagliostro — an occultist and mesmerist who inserts himself into the intrigues of the court of Louis XV, working toward hidden aims tied to secret societies while real historical figures and events swirl around him. This edition also includes The Mesmerist's Victim, continuing the story as the court's decadence and the seeds of revolution grow.

Key Concepts

Mesmerism and occult secret societies; court conspiracy and political manipulation; the decline of the ancien régime as a backdrop to personal drama; the blending of real historical figures (Louis XV, Madame du Barry) with invented ones.

About the Author

Alexandre Dumas (1802–1870) was a French writer and one of the most widely read authors of the 19th century, known for his prolific output of historical adventure novels and plays. He was a contemporary of Victor Hugo and a major figure in French Romantic literature.

About This Edition

This edition (taken from 'The Works of Alexandre Dumas in Thirty Volumes') includes both volumes (usually published as Joseph Balsamo and Memoirs of a Physician) and is the full unabridged version which also includes a book sometimes published separately; The Mesmerist's Victim.