The Forty-Five Guardsmen (original 1847; edition 2001)

This is a sequel to La Dame de Monsoreau (aka Chicot the Jester), wherein Henri III and Francois d'Anjou and the de Guises amuse themselves with politics, Henri du Bouchage seeks love, Diane de Monsoreau seeks vengeance, and Henri de Navarre begins to collect his wife's dowry. Throughout this, Chicot, in one guise or another, interweaves his observations and connects the plots. ( )

illustration has tissue guard printed with caption. Very attractive binding in black cloth with floral decoration on covers and spines in light green and orange. Spine titles are gold, most very bright, a few slightly rubbed.