“Strong of this world” Druon in brief summary
In French, this novel is called “Great Families,” and it deals mainly with the ancient aristocratic family of La Monnery and the family of immigrants from Austria, the major financiers of the Schudlers.
Representatives of these two families came to one of the Parisian maternity hospitals on the occasion of the birth of Jean-Noel Schudler, Jean-Noel is accounted for by the grandson of the aged “poet of the fourth generation”, Count Jean de La Monnery, who came together with his wife Juliette, the baby’s grandmother. This family is represented at the meeting also by the poet’s brother Marquis Urben de La Monnery, and even herself. childbirth. Jacqueline, now bearing the surname Schudler. Jean and Urben have two more brothers: Robert is a general and Gerard is a diplomat. Jacqueline’s husband François is not here because he is at the front, but Ninety-year-old Sigfrid, the great-grandfather of the baby, the founder of the Shudler Bank, his
Here in the novel there is one more figure – fifty-seven-year-old Lucien Moblan, who by the mother accounts for the brother of the poet Jean and all the other brothers of La Monnery of the older generation. At the same time, he is the ex-husband of Baroness Adele Schudler. Outwardly, he is ugly, but very rich. He is called the king of gambling houses and night restaurants.
One day, Noel Schudler invites him, the ex-husband of his wife, for an important conversation in his office. This conversation is preceded by the conflict between Noel and his son François. Departing for two months to America, he instructs his son to manage the newspaper “Eco de Mateno” belonging to him among other things. He successfully copes with the task, but at the same time he produces a number of necessary reforms in the newspaper, rejuvenates the staff and gets such authority from his subordinates, which causes an attack of jealousy in the father returning from his trip. And the direct cause of the conflict is the intention of François to appoint Simon Lashom, too young, in the opinion of his father, to head the foreign policy department, who at this point in his political career has a short pause. As a result of this generation conflict, Noel Schudler, having seized a newspaper from François, instructs him to deal with the Soncelski sugar factories. Francois and there undertakes modernization, which promises big profits, but at some point requires additional investment. Noel Schudler would not have found it difficult to find the means, but since Francois to some extent violated his instructions, the father decides to teach him a lesson.
That’s why he invites Lucien Mobalon to his place, who also has a stake in the Sonselian sugar factories. Schudler, having offered his shares, creates an impression in Moblon that the Schudlers are on the verge of ruin. Moblan, a long-hated Shudlerov – among other things, also because he and his ex-wife spread rumors about his impotence – decides, as Noel calculated, to sell his shares of sugar factories in order to speed up the collapse. The share price is falling. Noel expected, after waiting two or three days, to buy them at a lower price. But since he does not say anything about this operation to his son, but, on the contrary, assures that everything happens because of his missteps, Francois goes on a nod to Moblon and, after listening to the cynical admission that he craves the ruin of the Shudlers, commits suicide. This death gives rise to a panic among the depositors of the bank Shudlerov, who are beginning to urgently withdraw their money. There is a threat of a very real bankruptcy of the Shudlers. But Noel Schudler copes with the situation and doubles his profits, earning thus even on the death of his own son. However, the true winner is still Lucien Moblan: having lost ten million francs in two days, he can be proud that he sent one of the Shudders to the next world.
Jacqueline Schudler, sincerely fond of her husband, suffered a mental trauma, miraculously avoided hemorrhage to the brain, and remained for two months chained to bed. It heals very slowly, and relatives begin to take steps aimed at restoring her spiritual balance with the help of religion. The Dominican priest whom they invited really helps her: she is starting to emerge from the crisis. And Noel Schudler, having studied the papers of his son, is imbued with his ideas and begins to reorganize the newspaper in accordance with his plans. Moreover, he betrays the ideas of François for his own and nurtures plans for revenge for Lucien Moblon. And he, trying to prove to everyone that with his potency, in spite of the Shudlerov’s guilt, everything is in order, is determined to have a child and allows in this connection his mistress, a young actress with the stage name of Sylvain Duval, fool himself. Since Moblan promised Sylvain to give her, if she gives him a child, a million francs, she, having gone far to the province with a companion who was really pregnant, returns in a couple of months with a twain and bargains for Moblan for it as much as two million. Simon Lashom, whom Noel Schudler, meanwhile, is luring from the ministry to his newspaper, finds out about Sylvain’s trickery and reports it to his master. The fate of Moblon is in the hands of Schudler. He decides to use the greed of the heirs of the Moblin, who are not satisfied with the extravagance of the latter, nor the unexpected appearance of two more heirs. Shudder consults with lawyers and finds out what can bring a case in this situation for the guardianship of the Moblon. After all, he, Schudler, is the guardian of his grandchildren, these grandchildren in turn are his relatives, and consequently, the potential heirs of the Moblin. He can not, Schudler, see how the money is squandered, which rightfully belong to those whom he cared for. And he convenes a family council, which, as it turns out, has very broad powers. Especially if there is a magistrate there. At the same time, giving a bribe to Minister Anatoly Rousso under the guise of a fee for legal advice, he enlists the support of the latter. Everything turns out, as it was intended. As a result, the guardian of Moblon becomes Noel Schudler himself. And he convenes a family council, which, as it turns out, has very broad powers. Especially if there is a magistrate there. At the same time, giving a bribe to Minister Anatoly Rousso under the guise of a fee for legal advice, he enlists the support of the latter. Everything turns out, as it was intended. As a result, the guardian of Moblon becomes Noel Schudler himself. And he convenes a family council, which, as it turns out, has very broad powers. Especially if there is a magistrate there. At the same time, giving a bribe to Minister Anatoly Rousso under the guise of a fee for legal advice, he enlists the support of the latter. Everything turns out, as it was intended. As a result, the guardian of Moblon becomes Noel Schudler himself.
Meanwhile, Adédie Schudler gets cancer. Died Siegfried Schudler. Gradually Moblan degrades mentally. And one day, Isabel is summoned to a madhouse, because there was a man who posed as her late husband, Olivier Meniere. This person turns out to be Lucien Moblan. The day after Isabella’s visit, he dies. The heirs by that time had already divided among themselves all of his millions, and none of his relatives came to his funeral.
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