Armand; or The Peer and The Peasant

Though largely forgotten today, this romantic melodrama was a significant triumph for actress and playwright Anna Cora Mowatt, even outshining her groundbreaking comedy Fashion (1845). Capitalizing on the fervor surrounding the characters and settings popularized by Alexander Dumas’ Musketeer novels, this captivating drama follows the enchanting peasant maiden Blanche as she uncovers her potential lineage as the illegitimate daughter of the cunning Duke de Richelieu. Meanwhile, her devoted sweetheart, the noble Armand, must demonstrate his cleverness, bravery, and valor to defend her honor—risking everything, even a confrontation with the lascivious King Louis XV himself!