Le Sergent Renaud

Pierre Sales (c.1856-1921) was a French author of numerous popular 'morality tales' published under the series title of Parisian Adventures, several of which were adapted into silent films in the early 20th century. This work published in 1898 tells the story of Marie Reynaud, a Parisian seamstress, who falls pregnant and is seemingly abandoned at a time when such a predicament would make her a social outcast. Unbeknownst to Marie, her suitor has been killed in a horrific fencing accident, thus preventing him from standing by her. Reprinted from the original Fayard Freres French language edition.