Manon Lescaut
by Antoine François Prévostliterary work· published 1731
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Set in France and Louisiana in the early 18th century, the story follows the hero, the Chevalier des Grieux, and his lover, Manon Lescaut. Des Grieux comes from noble and landed family, but forfeits his hereditary wealth and incurs the disappointment of his father by running away with Manon. In Paris, the young lovers enjoy a blissful cohabitation, while Des Grieux struggles to satisfy Manon's taste for luxury. He scrounges together money by borrowing from his unwaveringly loyal friend Tiberge and from cheating gamblers. On several occasions, Des Grieux's wealth evaporates (by theft, in a house fire, etc.), prompting Manon to leave him for a richer man because she cannot stand the thought of living in penury.
Adaptations (1)
Manon Lescaut was adapted into a 1914 film.
Manon Lescaut1914 · film · 60 min · dir. Herbert Hall Winslow · IMDb ↗Manon Lescaut, ordered to a convent by her religious fanatic father, meets and falls for a wealthy young man, the Chevalier des Grieux. Together they escape her escorts and flee to Paris. However, there, the Baron De Bretigny meets Manon and schemes to separate her from the Chevalier by lies and claim her for his own.