Another was an opera bouffe written by MM. Henry Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy, music by Offenbach, presented for the first time at Paris in the Théâtre des Variétés in 1866.
Monsieur Charles Lemire published, in 1894, a lyric representation with music, dances, etc., in four parts and ten scenes, entitled Barbe-Bleue (Le sire de Rais). Some of the scenes represented the interior of the Hôtel de la Suze, the public square at Nantes, the Château de Tiffauges, the gate of Machecoul (the arrest), Château de Nantes (the trial), Prairie Piesse (the execution), ending with an allegoric apotheosis.
A Picardy romance of Comte Ory was rendered by Scribe and Rossini into an opera in which the characteristics of Gilles de Retz were presented in the hero.
Walkenaer has investigated, with marvellous patience, the tradition of Bluebeard, and has sought to trace it throughout its various ramifications in literature.
La Rousse in his Great French Dictionary of the XIXth Century, under the title of Barbe-Bleue, introduces quotations from French littérateurs who have referred to Bluebeard: J. Sandeau, Toussenel, H. de Balzac, Ch. Nadar, Max. du Camp, Oct. Feuillet.
Essays or volumes on Bluebeard have appeared either separately or in magazines or newspapers as shown in the following list:
“Bluebeard.” E. Vizelly. Gentlemen’s Magazine, N. S., vol. xxii., p. 368.
—— T. C. Woolsey. Lakeside, vol. v., p. 314.
—— Origin of Story of. W. C. Taylor. Bentley, vol. xxiii., p. 136.
—— Original. Once a Week, vol. xviii., p. 15.
—— Rehabilitated, Verses. W. H. Harrison. Dub. Univ., vol. xc, p. 728.
“Bluebeard’s Ghost.” W. M. Thackeray. Fraser, vol. xxviii., p. 413.
“Bluebeard’s Keys.” Cornn., vol. xxiii., pp. 192, 688. Same article Living Age, vol. cviii., p. 685; vol. cx., p. 139.
“Bluebeard.” H. C. Lea. Nation, vol. xliii., p. 377.
“Gilles de Retz, Baron de: Original Bluebeard.” L. Frechette. Arena, vol. i., p. 141.
“Bluebeard, Case of.” P. Edwards. Green Bag, vol. v., p. 543D.
“Maréchal de Retz.” Belgra, vol. lxxx., p. 58.
Gilles de Retz (Barbe-Bleue). L’Abbé Eugene Bossard. 1886. H. Champion.
Barbe-Bleue, de la Légende et de l’Histoire. Ch. Lemire. 1886. Ernest Leroux.
The works of Abbé Bossard and M. Charles Lemire have been issued since the author left Nantes. Much of the matter in this paper was prepared before these volumes were issued. But the author has not scrupled to use them, as he has those of Michelet, Monstrelet, or Guépin, or to verify from them what he has written, especially their later rendition of the archives. He had access to these records equally with these gentlemen, but he freely acknowledges the aid received from the printed copy of ancient manuscripts, the difficulties of which will be apparent on an examination of the photographic copy on page [137].
M. Paul Saunière published in the Publicité at Nantes, a feuilleton entitled Barbe-Bleue, and a novel entitled The Black Douglas, by S. R. Crockett, lately published, and a book entitled La Bas, by Huysmanns, all deal with Gilles de Retz.
