Name: Il tulipano nero by Alexandre Dumas and Auguste Maquet
Availability: InStock
Rating: 5 (3 reviews)
Author: Maquet, Auguste, 1813-1888

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Il tulipano nero by Alexandre Dumas and Auguste Maquet

(3 User reviews) 691

By Elena Delgado Posted on Mar 30, 2026

In Category - Green Energy

Authors: Maquet, Auguste, 1813-1888 Published By : Maquet, Auguste, 1813-1888

Book Language: Italian

Hey, have you ever heard of a story where a flower is worth more than a person's life? That's the wild premise of 'The Black Tulip.' It's not the usual Dumas adventure with musketeers and sword fights, but a gripping tale set in 17th-century Holland during the real-life political murders known as the 'Year of Disaster.' The main character, Cornelius van Baerle, is a gentle botanist whose only dream is to grow a perfect black tulip. But he gets caught up in a political conspiracy he wants nothing to do with. He's thrown in prison, his life on the line, and his precious tulip bulbs are all he has left. The real mystery isn't just 'who framed him?' but 'can he possibly grow his impossible flower from a prison cell?' It's a surprisingly tense and beautiful story about obsession, injustice, and finding hope in the most unlikely places. If you like underdog stories with a unique historical twist, you'll be rooting for Cornelius and his tulip from page one.

File: Il tulipano nero by Alexandre Dumas and Auguste Maquet

Forget everything you think you know about Alexandre Dumas. ‘The Black Tulip’ swaps swashbuckling for gardening, but don’t let that fool you—it’s just as thrilling.

The Story

The year is 1672 in Holland, a time of intense political turmoil. Cornelius van Baerle, a kind and peaceful doctor, has one passion: tulips. He’s on the verge of winning a huge prize for creating the first truly black tulip. His life is perfect until his godfather, a political enemy of the ruling party, is executed. Cornelius is falsely accused of treason simply for being connected to him.

He’s sentenced to life in prison. In his cell, he manages to hide his three precious black tulip bulbs. His only human connection is Rosa, the jailer’s kind-hearted daughter. Together, they face a ruthless rival grower who will stop at nothing to steal the secret of the black tulip. The race is on: can Cornelius and Rosa grow the flower before his enemy finds it, or before the political tides turn against him forever?

Why You Should Read It

This book surprised me. At its heart, it’s a story about pure passion. Cornelius’s love for his tulip is so intense it becomes a form of resistance against the injustice of his imprisonment. The relationship between him and Rosa is sweet and builds slowly, based on trust and a shared dream. It feels real.

Dumas makes the process of growing a flower feel like a high-stakes heist. Will the bulb sprout? Will the guard discover it? I found myself desperately wanting a flower to bloom! It’s also a sharp look at how petty jealousy and political corruption can destroy innocent lives, which feels sadly timeless.

Final Verdict

‘The Black Tulip’ is perfect for anyone who loves historical fiction but wants a break from massive wars and royal courts. It’s for readers who enjoy a clever, character-driven puzzle and a rooting interest in a genuine underdog. If you’ve ever been obsessed with a hobby or project, you’ll understand Cornelius completely. It’s a shorter, more focused Dumas novel that proves a great story doesn’t need a battlefield—sometimes, all the drama you need is in a single flowerpot.