Parisian Secrets. In 2 volumes.

"Eugene Sue's 'The Mysteries of Paris' is possibly the most popular novel of the 19th century, spawning numerous imitations and creating a special direction in adventure literature. To this genre of 'criminal fiction,' one can include works such as Hugo's 'Les Misérables,' Féval's 'The Hunchback,' Krestovsky's 'The Slums of Petersburg,' and many other celebrated novels (Umberto Eco published a list of forty novels that are direct imitations of 'The Mysteries of Paris'). The book vividly depicts the colorful, cruel, adventurous world of the Parisian underworld. Incredible adventures, unexpected plot twists, romantic intrigues, and colorful characters continue to captivate readers today, and the number of film adaptations and theatrical productions of 'The Mysteries of Paris' is countless. The text is accompanied by numerous illustrations by the Italian artist Osvaldo Tofani (1849–1915), never before published in Russia. The first volume includes the first five parts of the novel. The second volume includes the last five parts of the novel and the epilogue."