TY - BOOK AU - Sue,Eugène AU - De Leon,Daniel TI - The Blacksmith's Hammer; or, The Peasant Code: A Tale of the Grand Monarch AV - PQ PY - 2011/// CY - Salt Lake City, UT PB - Project Gutenberg KW - France -- History -- Louis XIV, 1643-1715 -- Fiction N1 - Release date is 2011-01-17; Produced by Chuck Greif and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This book was produced from scanned images of public domain material from the Google Print project.); Original publication data not identified N2 - "The Blacksmith's Hammer; or, The Peasant Code: A Tale of the Grand Monarch" by Eugene Sue is a historical novel likely written in the late 19th century. The story is part of a larger series titled "The Mysteries of the People," which chronicles the lives of a proletarian family throughout various historical events. The opening sets the stage for a narrative centered around the characters of Salaun Lebrenn, a sailor with a rebellious spirit, and his family, while tackling themes of vassalage, social injustice, and personal integrity during the reign of Louis XIV. At the start of the narrative, we are introduced to Salaun Lebrenn, who recounts his lineage and the struggles of his family under the feudal system in Brittany. The tension mounts as we follow the dramatic events aboard the St. Eloi, a brigantine caught in a fierce storm while carrying distinguished passengers, including Mademoiselle Bertha of Plouernel. The characters' contrasting reactions to the storm reveal their personalities; Bertha stands out for her bravery and philosophical view of life and death. As the narrative unfolds, a powerful undercurrent of dissatisfaction with the ruling class and the burdens placed upon the common people is established, hinting at potential uprisings and conflicts that resonate with the book’s themes of oppression and courage. (This is an automatically generated summary.) UR - https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/34987 ER -