The Bright Face of Danger: Being an Account of Some Adventures of Henri De Launay, Son of the Sieur De La Tournoire

What begins as an absurd vow made in the heat of wounded pride becomes one young man's unexpected journey toward manhood. Henri de Launay is a thoughtful, bookish soul more comfortable with volumes than swords, but when the capricious Mlle. Celeste mocks his scholarly nature and pits him against the dashing Brignan de Brignan, Henri's response is as reckless as it is magnificent: he will travel to Paris and cut off his rival's moustache. Thus launches a swashbuckling adventure through early 17th-century France, where our reluctant hero must navigate duels, disguises, and dangerous courts to fulfill a promise born of youthful folly and wounded honor. Along the way, Henri discovers that courage cannot be found in books alone. Stephens crafts a rousing tale of love, honor, and the transforming power of adventure that recalls the great romantic histories of Dumas.