Talk:Pierre Picaud

Actual person? Any sources?

According to Sparknotes' analysis of The Count of Monte Cristo,

"The Count of Monte Cristo is an example of the appropriation process Dumas frequently employed. His inspiration for the novel was an anecdote he read in Mémoires historiques tirés des archives de la police de Paris, a collection of intriguing criminal cases recorded by Jacques Peuchet, a former police archivist. The anecdote relates that in 1807, a man named François Piçaud became engaged to a pretty and wealthy girl, inspiring the envy of his friends. One of these friends, Loupian, persuaded the others to join him in denouncing Piçaud as an English spy. Though innocent of the charge, Piçaud was arrested and kept in prison for seven years. While in prison, he befriended a rich Italian cleric who left Piçaud his vast fortune when he died. Piçaud returned to Paris in 1815 as a wealthy man. Using his wealth, as well as numerous disguises, he enacted a complex plan to avenge himself on his enemies, murdering several of them." Sparknotes page on the Context of The Count of Monte Cristo.

I can look into more sources. Zidel333 23:23, 22 September 2007 (UTC)

Some more information

I have read this account but with the name François Piçaud instead of Pierre, but all sources quote the same few texts from the time. http://www.mtholyoke.edu/courses/rschwart/hist255-s01/thenardier/renee/pierrepicaud.htm http://pages.cthome.net/jbair/diamond.htm —Preceding unsigned comment added by 170.123.4.230 (talk) 19:26, 20 October 2010 (UTC)

Additional info. Google Books has a copy of the 6 volume "count of monte cristo". Starting on page 265 of Volume 5 the story is retold with Francois Picaud. http://books.google.com/books?id=aegLAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA265&lpg=PA265&dq=francois+picaud&source=bl&ots=LBEsJce0ze&sig=f2i0egJlOYlKEw7s5wpzmt7zOac&hl=en&ei=x0O_TPC0MoaglAfNleTjBw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=7&ved=0CCYQ6AEwBg#v=onepage&q=francois%20picaud&f=false

"In the year 1807 a working shoemaker of the name of Francois Picaud lived in Paris This poor devil who did his work at home was a young and good looking fellow and was on the point of marrying a neat pert lively girl whom he loved as common people do love the brides they choose that is alone among all women for common people know only one way of loving a woman that is marrying her With this fine project in his head and dressed in his Sunday's best Francois Picaud went to the keeper of a coffee house a man who was his equal in age and station but richer than the cobbler and known for his extravagant jealousy of everybody and everything that was prosperous Mathieu Loupian a native of Nimes like Picaud kept a coffee and wine shop well patronized near the Place Saint e Opportune He was a widower with two children three regular customers all from the department of the Gard and all acquainted with Picaud were with him What's up said the master of the house Why Picaud you are so smart that one would think you were going to dance las treillas This is the name of a popular dance in Lower Languedoc I am going to do better my friend I am going to be married Whom have you chosen to plant your horns said one of the company named Allut Not your mother in law's second girl for in that family they plant them so clumsily that they stick through your hat In fact Allut's hat had a hole in it and the laugh was on the cobbler's side Joking aside said the landlord whom are you about to marry The Vigouroux girl Therese the rich " —Preceding unsigned comment added by 170.123.4.230 (talk) 19:44, 20 October 2010 (UTC)