III. A tower of fiction. Legend, literature and popular culture

   Beyond history and image, Nesle’s tower memory perpetuates most of all in popular culture thanks to – or because of – a legend stating that the tower was the location of bloody orgies at the end of which profligate princesses were throwing their lovers in the Seine. Based on an authentic scandal involving in 1314 the daughters-in-laws of the French king, this legend took shape one century later and kept on evolving according to literary links and historical approximations, giving as a result birth to ballads, romantic dramas, theme parks, animated movies, novels and films.
   The third part of this exhibition invokes this rich material and give room to the author’s works that have often been remake or adapted to the stage as much as to the screen : thanks to them an imaginary Nesle’s tower where everything is chaos, fury and lust has become popular.
   The public will be able to see an incunabulum copy of Ballade of Ladies of Time Gone By by Villon, Maurice Druon’s autograph manuscript of The Accursed Kings as well as Alexandre Dumas’ play original copy or cheap copies of popular novels. Artworks also have a prominent place in this section with stage costumes, posters and collectible vignettes.

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Eugène du Faget, Costume’s models for La Tour de Nesle, 1832. Drawing (watercolor and gouache highlights).

   Gaillardet and Dumas’ play is created 29 May 1832 at Théâtre de la Porte Saint-Martin then led by director Harel, with a prestigious team of actors. Marguerite’s part is played by Ms. George, certainly the best actress of her time, who, after a brilliant career as tragic actress at Théâtre-Français in the Empire era, becomes the favorite interpreter of the romantic repertoire: characters such as Christine, Mary Tudor, and Lucrecia Borgia are created for her. Regarding Buridan’s part, it was initially destined to Frédérick Lemaître, who was a major actor since his role of Robert Macaire in L'Auberge des Adrets (1823) and dramas played in « boulevard of crime » theaters, but the role is finally taken by Bocage.

BNF, BIBLIOTHEQUE-MUSEE DE L'OPERA : D216 O-2 (104)