The Marquise de Brinvilliers by Alexandre Dumas is a historical novel written in the late 19th century. Set in 17th-century France, it follows Marie-Madeleine de Brinvilliers, infamous for her scandals involving poison and murder. The story opens dramatically with Sainte-Croix's arrest on the Pont-Neuf while accompanying the veiled Marquise. Flashbacks reveal their forbidden love amid her troubled marriage and her family's conspiracies. In the Bastille, Sainte-Croix encounters the notorious poisoner Exili and is drawn deeper into the darkness. Driven by vengeance and temptation, both lovers descend into irreversible ruin. The novel vividly portrays ambition, betrayal, and the darker aspects of human nature.
