THE DOUBLE LIFE

THE DOUBLE LIFE (La double vie de Théophraste Longuet) by French novelist, journalist, and short story writer, GASTON LEROUX was first published in the United States by JOHN E. KEARNEY/DODGE PUBLISHING in 1919. The story concerns a retired stamp maker who discovers he is the reincarnation of an 18th-century Parisian criminal named Cartouche, leading to a supernatural tale of past lives, crime, and identity. This revelation sets off a chain of events intertwined with mystery and supernatural elements as Longuet grapples with his identity and the legacies of his past. At the start of the narrative, he receives a locked oaken chest containing memoirs and documents linking Longuet to the infamous criminal Cartouche. The story follows him as he uncovers this secret through documents and experiences, blurring the lines between his present and past existence as he becomes possessed by Cartouche's spirit and begins to commit crimes. The novel is a blend of historical thriller, gothic mystery, and psychological fiction, exploring themes of reincarnation, identity, and the supernatural.