CROWNED BY THE FRENCH ACADEMY
French author Andre Theuriet is well known for his many poems and novels focusing on the woodland life, as well as his emphasis on drama rather than adventure.
And plainly, that's so here: After his father dies intestate -- that is, leaving no will -- Claudet de Buxieres' future seems grim. When Julien de Buxieres, a distant cousin, arrives to assume control of Claudet's rightful inheritance, it looks as though a struggle will ensue over who will control the late Claude Buxieres' estate. Instead, after an initial cool reception, the two become close friends and the conflict arises from their mutual attraction to the same girl.