Genre

Classics, Historical Fiction, Romance

Audience

Adults & Teens

Author’s Worldview

1800s France; Catholic, atheist & republican cultural backgrounds.

Year Published

1850

Themes

Love, honor, loyalty, goodness, faithfulness, providence, devotion, mob mentality, truth, justice

 

Reviewed by

Corinna Turner

Would you die for a flower? Would you kill for one? God’s Providence is the only hope for the protagonists in this tense, heart-warming prison romance.

“To despise flowers is to offend God,

The more beautiful the flower is, the more does one offend God in despising it,

The tulip is the most beautiful of all flowers,

Therefore, he who despises the tulip offends God beyond measure.”

Such is the philosophy of the main protagonist of The Black Tulip, the young man Cornelius Van Baerle, a noble merchant living in his home town of Dort in the Netherlands in 1672. Gentle, kind, generous, and intelligent, he lives a quiet, comfortable life devoted to his passion of tulip growing—a common hobby at the time. The Dutch tulip society has offered a grand prize of one hundred thousand florins for the person who can breed a completely black strain of tulip and Cornelius has finally produced three bulbs he is certain will achieve this.

Unfortunately, Cornelius’s once-powerful godfather and his godfather’s brother, rulers of the Netherlands at the time, have fallen out of favor with the people. This affords Cornelius’s jealous neighbor the opportunity he has been looking for. Cornelius, though innocent, is accused of treason and arrested. But to his neighbor’s dismay, Cornelius manages to take the bulbs with him to prison, where they—and his blooming relationship with his jailor’s daughter, Rosa—are his only consolation.

Can Cornelius grow the black tulip, prove his innocence and win the affections of the woman he loves? This unusually short novel by Alexandre Dumas is a heartwarming parable about goodness, faithfulness, and the power of Providence.

The Black Tulip has all the adventure, suspense, and romance one would expect from a Dumas’ novel, but combines these qualities with an almost impeccable moral tone that is rare, if not unique, in Dumas’s work (where protagonists usually engage in casual adultery as easily as in swash-buckling heroics). As such, it is a rare gem, a Dumas’ novel that a reader with traditional moral standards can enjoy and re-read unreservedly.

Providence and faithfulness are major themes, the idea that the good must hold to what is good no matter what and let the chips fall as they may. Cornelius is a fantastic example of this attitude. However, he remains a very human character, fallible and with his flaws. He and Rosa must learn to try to improve themselves where they can, but ultimately to accept each other, flaws and all—a vital lesson for any prospective spouses!

The romantic relationship is particularly satisfying, perhaps especially for a modern reader, since it is between two people from—in worldly terms—impossibly different backgrounds. Rosa, as a jailor’s daughter, is the lowest of the low, while Cornelius is of the noble merchant class and connected to the country’s rulers. This presents another test of the protagonists’ true natures.

Cornelius and Rosa’s faith in God is very clear and explicit throughout the book, however the visible aspects of Calvinism (the religion of the Netherlands at the time) are very limited—at a key moment Cornelius even refuses a visit from a clergyman on the grounds that he has worshipped God his whole life and feels God can ‘have nothing against me.’ This blasé attitude may well make Catholic readers wince, but it is clear that Dumas is using his protagonists’ faith to make a more satisfying story. He is not writing with any sort of didactic or theological intent.

It’s important to note that Dumas wrote historical fiction, not history. He presents historical events according to his own bias (committed republican) and, above all, for maximum dramatic effect. While what happened to Cornelius’s godfather and godfather’s brother is generally accepted as a low point in Dutch history, it is unlikely things were quite as black and white politically as Dumas presents them.

As a classic novel rather than a specifically religious work of fiction, this would be good for any reader, whether secular, Protestant, or Catholic, so long as they are happy to read about characters who trust in God.

The first four chapters of this novel contain two particularly brutal murders and when considering this book for younger readers it would be advised that parents, caregivers, and teachers pre-read these chapters to make sure they think the book suitable for the child in question.

When considering this book for younger readers, people should also be aware that many of Dumas’ other works contain very casual—and very normalized—portrayals of immoral behavior, and that Dumas himself was a notorious womanizer with forty mistresses and at least four illegitimate children. 

However, this particular novel is a tense, heart-warming prison romance with a strong theme of God’s Providence triumphing over evil that will leave most readers feeling warm and satisfied.

A World Such As Heaven Intended

Amara didn’t intend to fall in love with a Union soldier. Is love even possible in her war-torn world?

For Eden’s Sake by T.M. Gaouette

Life is precious whether it’s planned or not.

Lord of the World by Robert Hugh Benson

Does Pope Francis think the world is about to end?

The Lion’s Heart by Dena Hunt

A deep, honest story of emotional struggle, temptation, and sacrifice.

Finnian and the Seven Mountains (Vol. 1) by Philip Koslowski, Michael Lavoy, and Jim Fern

Join Finnian as his quest for a legendary sword takes him to the monks of Skellig Michael, a real life inspiration for the Jedi temple.

The Grace Crasher by Mara Faro

The Grace Crasher is the ecumenical romantic dramedy that everyone who has ever had family members in split churches needs to read.

Rightfully Ours by Carolyn Asfalk

When Paul & Rachel discover a hidden treasure they wrestle with the responsibility of it– even as they face similar questions in their relationship.

Lance and the Veil by Kevin Rush

She was Christ’s comforter, he, his executioner. Can the two find love in each other’s arms?

Best of 2020

Yes some good things DID happen this year- Catholic creators have not let turmoil stop their mission.

Brave Water by Sarah Robsdottir

What if you had to risk your life for a simple cup of water?

Silence by Shusaku Endo

The story that introduced faith to one of the most secular nations on Earth

Finnian and the Seven Mountains (Vol.2) By, Philip Kosloski and Michael Lavoy

Can one map be the key to stopping the Viking Invasion?

The Wrecker’s Daughter By G.M. Baker

When Hannah learns that the Bible verse she has lived by is not found anywhere in Scripture, she realizes that the culture that has formed her is completely corrupt.

St. Agnes and the Selkie by G. M. Baker

Cast up by the sea. Courted by the king. Followed by danger.

The Fisherman’s Bride by Catherine Magia

The wife of Peter takes up her pen to tell her side of the story, and forces us to examine our ideas of perfection and holiness.

Demons are Forever by Declan Finn

Marco flees from his fears of hurting Amanda by taking a job to train Vampire Hunters in San Francisco. Should be a quiet job right?

The Other Side of Freedom by Cynthia Toney

A Catholic “To Kill a Mockingbird” if there ever was one.

Gifts Visible and Invisible

If you are looking for a cozy read to get into the Christmas cheer, this collection has it all.

Where to Begin with C.S. Lewis

When he was four years old, C. S. Lewis renamed himself Jack and refused to answer to Clive Staples. For the rest of his life, he was Jack to his friends.