Derues
 Celebrated Crimes

by Alexandre Dumas

"Derues" by Alexandre Dumas is a historical novel written in the early 20th century, and it delves into the life of one of France's most notorious criminals. The book revolves around Antoine-Francois Derues, whose childhood sets the stage for a life filled with deceit, manipulation, and ultimately murder as he evolves into a figure of profound wickedness and cruelty. At the start of the narrative, we witness a scene in September 1751 where a group of schoolboys escape their religious confines, brimming with the joy of newfound freedom. Among them, a timid and sickly boy named Antoine becomes the target of bullying. As the boys engage in games, Antoine's sinister nature is hinted at when, under the pressure of his peers, he shows a remarkable capacity for cunning and cruelty by attempting to harm another boy in an act of aggression. This opening chapter reveals the early signs of Derues' malevolence and sets the groundwork for his transformation into a criminal mastermind, foreshadowing the dark paths he will take as he ages.