Madame Thérèse: Introduction and notes by Edward Manley

"Madame Thérèse" by Erckmann-Chatrian is a historical novel published in 1863. Set in a small German village during the French Revolutionary Wars, the story follows a compassionate doctor who rescues a wounded French canteen woman from the battlefield. Narrated by the doctor's ten-year-old nephew, the tale depicts the clash between peaceful village life and revolutionary upheaval. As the doctor nurses the mysterious stranger back to health, their encounter sparks dangerous accusations and forces difficult choices about loyalty, freedom, and new ideals.