The Rose of Versailles
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The Rose of Versailles (ベルサイユのばら Berusaiyu no bara), by Riyoko Ikeda, is one of the best-known titles in shōjo manga.
Oscar10.jpg
The setting is France, before and during the French revolution. The main character is a woman named Oscar François Jarjayes. Her father, General Jarjayes, despaired of ever getting a son (he had six daughters), decided to raise his youngest daughter as a man. Oscar is head of the palace guards, and responsible for the safety of the young, flighty Queen of France, Marie Antoinette. The story centers on Oscar's growing realization of how France is governed, and the plight of the poor. Another important storyline is the love story between Marie Antoinette and the Swedish Count Axel von Fersen.
Oscar is often considered one of the prototypical bifauxnen.
Publishing and forms
The manga was serialized in Shueisha's Margaret magazine in 1973, and became an instant success. It has been turned into a play, an anime series and a live-action movie. There are rumours that there will be an opera as well.
The play adaptation of the manga is also the longest-running show by the Takarazuka Revue.
In 1983, the first two volumes of The Rose of Versailles were translated in English by Frederik L. Schodt for the purpose of teaching English to Japanese speakers and released in North America by the North American branch of Sanyusha. The Rose of Versailles was the first commercially translated manga to be available in North America.
External links
- http://www.slis.ualberta.ca/cap02/elisabeth/ikeda-riyoko.html
- Riyoko Ikeda's Official Site (http://www.ikeda-riyoko-pro.com/)
- Lady Oscar (http://www.ladyoscar.com/) (The Rose of Versailles overseas title)
Template:Anime-stubit:Lady Oscar ja:ベルサイユのばら zh:凡爾賽玫瑰
Categories: Anime | Manga