Ponson du Terrail, Pierre-Alexis
Entry updated 12 September 2022. Tagged: Author.
(1829-1871) French author, mostly of popular fiction, best known for the character Rocambole, an Antihero who prefigures many similar adventurers who begin their careers as criminals and end up working, usually in secret, to defend society, a list which includes Maurice LeBlanc's Arsène Lupin, Doc Savage, Leslie Charteris's The Saint, and others; the series [not listed below] contains many fantasticated episodes, almost always explained away. After La baronne Trépassée (1852 3vols; trans Brian Stableford as The Vampire and the Devil's Son 2007), whose protagonist may or may literally be a Vampire, of more direct sf interest is La Femme Immortelle (1869; trans Brian Stableford as The Immortal Woman 2013), whose Vampire protagonist is both immortal and able to turn lead into gold (see Immortality; Transmutation). Much happens over two centuries of action. [JC]
Pierre-Alexis, Vicomte de Ponson du Terrail
born Montmaur, Hautes Alpes, France: 8 July 1829
died Bordeaux, France: 20 January 1871
works
- La baronne Trépassée (Paris: Baudry, 1852) [published in three volumes: binding unknown/]
- The Vampire and the Devil's Son (Encino, California: Hollywood Comics/Black Coat Press, 2007) [coll: trans by Brian Stableford of the above: introduction by translator: pb/Nathalie Lial]
- Le Chambrion: histoire mystérieuse (Paris: E Dentu, 1865) [first appeared 1865 Monitor du Soir: binding unknown/]
- The Chambrion and Other Stories (Rockville, Maryland: The Borgo Press, 2013) [coll: trans by Brian Stableford of the above plus other stories: pb/uncredited]
- L'Auberge de la Rue des Enfants Rouges (Paris: E Dentu, 1868) [binding unknown/]
- The Police Agent (Encino, California: Hollywood Comics/Black Coat Press, 2017) [trans by Brian Stableford of the above: introduction by translator: pb/Daniele Serra]
- La Femme Immortelle (Paris: Lacroix, 1869) [binding unknown/]
- The Immortal Woman (Encino, California: Hollywood Comics/Black Coat Press, 2013) [coll: trans by Brian Stableford of the above: introduction by translator: pb/Mike Hoffman]
links
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