Saw a documentary on this subject which suggests the book was based on fact. When the Bastille was invaded, they found the remains of a man wearing the mask. The question remains - who was he ? The most popular theory is the brother of King Louis XIV My question would be, how did he survive for over 30 years in that mask ? It was extremely heavy and restrictive. I can only presume they took it off for him to sleep at least. Cruel in the extreme. Would have been kinder to have killed him. Richard Chamberlain did a very good version of the story in film and the subject haunted me ever since.
I saw an old black and white version of the movie, The Man in the Iron Mask (1939), on TV when I was a kid. Scared the heck out of me. I still remember images of it.
I think that I saw the old movie, because it was a very long time ago that i saw it; but I definitely remember reading the book about it, written by. Alexander Dumas. I first read The Count of Monte Cristo, and enjoyed that so much that I went on to read more of his books. It makes sense to me that the person in the mask could have been the brother of the king, and that is why no one was allowed to see his face.
At least two men went under the name Alexandre Dumas. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0241416/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm
Doctors orders to Dumas …………….. Dumas was a chronic insomniac, and his doctor ordered him to eat an apple at 7:00 AM under the Arch of Triumph in Paris. The reasoning was that this would force him into a regular pattern of rising and retiring. (wonder if it worked) Thanks Don (A quote from your link) @Don Alaska
For book readers of Alexander Dumas, th complete collection is on sale at amazon kindle today for only 49 cents for the ebook. As always, these sales do not last, so be sure to check the price before purchase in case it is no longer on sale. Here is the link and description: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BBSFDNR?
Yeah, this feels like a story with strong parallels today. I thought I felt bad watching The Shawshank Redemption the first time considering where I was in life. I'm not sure I want to revisit this Dumas story right now.
It is supposed to be based on fact. There is doubt about who fathered King Louis XIV, and the man in the iron mask is supposed to be his half-brother. Although he was imprisoned, he was kept in luxury and the mask was said to be made of velvet, with the 'iron mask' only used in public.