"Le dernier vivant" by Paul Féval is a novel published in serial form between 1871-1872. Written shortly after France's 1870 defeat, it follows diplomat Geoffroy de Rœux as he investigates a sinister conspiracy involving his childhood friend, judge Lucien Thibault. When Lucien suffers a mental breakdown after his wife Jeanne is accused of murder, Geoffroy uncovers a web of anonymous letters, false identities, and manipulation. The novel critiques the corruption of military suppliers whom Féval blamed for France's wartime losses. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
These books are free to read. Each is in the public domain in the United States; check your own country's rules before you copy or share one.
