Manon Lescaut

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

468

Title

Manon Lescaut

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

In this poignant tale of love and loss, the Chevalier des Grieux recounts his doomed passion for Manon Lescaut, a beautiful young woman imprisoned in a convent. Against all odds, he attempts to rescue her, but their escape is fraught with danger and heartbreak.

Summary up to 500 words

Manon Lescaut, written by Abbé Prévost, is a novel that tells the story of the Chevalier des Grieux and his love for Manon. The story begins with the Chevalier's account of meeting Manon at an inn in Passy, where she is being transported to America as part of a group of women. He falls deeply in love with her and decides to rescue her from the convent, but their escape is complicated by the presence of guards and the risk of discovery. Despite these obstacles, they manage to flee together, but their happiness is short-lived as they face numerous challenges on their journey to America. Along the way, Manon's behavior becomes increasingly erratic, causing tension in their relationship. Eventually, she dies under tragic circumstances, leaving the Chevalier des Grieux heartbroken and alone. The story takes a dramatic turn when the Chevalier des Grieux is accused of murdering Manon and is imprisoned, but he is eventually pardoned due to the efforts of his friend Synnelet. After his recovery, the Chevalier des Grieux returns to France with the help of Tiberge, who has been searching for him. The story concludes with the Chevalier des Grieux's reflection on his past mistakes and his determination to make amends. Throughout the novel, Prévost explores themes of love, morality, and redemption, raising questions about the nature of human relationships and the consequences of one's actions. The novel is a classic tale of star-crossed lovers, but it also offers a nuanced exploration of the complexities of human emotion and the search for meaning in life.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/468.epub.noimages

Local file path

data/epubs/pg468.epub

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2026-06-29 21:05 UTC

Categories

• Adventure
• Classics
• Romance