“Bernard de Montragoux was a very handsome man, tall, with broad shoulders, stout, and with a well-defined appearance; a peasant, however, smelling more of forest than of boudoir and salons. Nonetheless, the truth is that he did not appeal to the ladies as much as he should have, considering how handsome and wealthy he was. And the reason was his shyness, shyness and not his beard.

The ladies exerted an irresistible attraction over him, causing him insurmountable fear. As much as he liked them, he feared them just as much. Here lies the origin and the genesis of his deep-rooted affliction. When he saw a lady for the first time, he preferred to die rather than speak to her, and as much as he found her to his liking, he remained in front of her, sunk in gloomy silence; his feelings were only revealed through his eyes, which he would widen in a frightening manner.

This timidity exposed him to all sorts of misfortunes, and above all, it prevented him from forming an honest relationship with humble and restrained women and left him defenseless to the most daring and audacious adventures. Such was the misfortune of his life.” [...]

And what if Bluebeard was not the one we all know from Charles Perrault's tale? A terrifying, tyrannical, and bloodthirsty husband who eliminated his wives one after another? What if, on the contrary, he was a generous lord, inexperienced in life, shy and awkward with ladies, and so gullible that he constantly fell victim to them until he met a tragic end? This version is humorously recounted by Anatole France, wishing to “restore the name” of this legendary figure.

[Excerpt from the text on the back cover of the edition]