Blue-beard: A Contribution to History and Folk-lore / Being the history of Gilles de Retz of Brittany, France, who was executed at Nantes in 1440 A.D., and who was the original of Blue-beard in the tales of Mother Goose

An illustrated historical and folkloric study reconstructs the life and downfall of Gilles de Retz, a Breton noble and soldier who achieved high military rank and later returned to his estates, where debt, extravagant pursuits, and an obsession with alchemy are linked to accusations of abducting and murdering children. Drawing on archival trial records, confessions, ecclesiastical and civil proceedings, depositions, and local lore, the author traces the case to its execution and explores its transformation into the Bluebeard folktale, with appendices surveying Mother Goose publications and variant stories.