The Black Tulip (Penguin Classics) is a captivating historical novel penned by Alexandre Dumas père. Cornelius von Baerle, driven solely by his passion for horticulture, dreams of cultivating the rare and enigmatic black tulip to win an exorbitant prize. His life takes a dramatic turn when his powerful godfather falls victim to an assassination plot, placing Cornelius at the center of a treacherous political conspiracy. Accused of high treason, he is unjustly imprisoned, but finds solace in Rosa, the jailer’s daughter. Through her aid and companionship, Cornelius embarks on a clandestine quest to fulfill his dream while navigating the dangerous undercurrents of power and deceit that threaten to consume him.

Robin Buss’s insightful introduction delves into Dumas’s narrative, drawing parallels between the fictional tale and the historical backdrop of the Dutch Republic. The story is enriched by references to two notorious murders and the infamous period of “tulipmania” in seventeenth-century Holland, offering readers a vivid glimpse into this era of tulip obsession and political turmoil.

First published in 2003 as part of Penguin Classics’ extensive collection, this edition features authoritative text enhanced by Buss’s introduction and annotations. With 288 pages, it remains a gripping read for fans of historical fiction and Dumas’s works.