The Rose of Versailles (ベルサイユのばら Berusaiyu no Bara), also called BeruBara, is a shōjo manga series by Riyoko Ikeda published by Shueisha in Margaret from 1972 to 1973. It later was adapted into an anime, The Rose of Versailles. The series was published on 21 May 1972, in the Shueisha Margaret magazine's 21st edition. Publication lasted 82 weeks. The series garnered much acclaim, and topped sales ranks regularly.[1] The serialization of the manga finished in the autumn of 1973, with the publication of the last installment in the 52nd edition of the magazine.
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.[2] It has been licensed in French by Kana,[3] in Spanish by Azake Ediciones,[4] German by Carlsen, Italian by d-world,[5] and in Chinese by Tong Li Publishing.[6]
Contents |
| No. | Title | Release date | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | 新しい運命のうずの中に (Atarashii unmei no uzu no naka ni In the Waves of New Destiny) | November 1972[7] | ISBN 978-4088501062 |
| Marie Antoinette becomes Dauphine of France. At court, she is determined not to acknowledge Madame Du Barry, her father-in-law's mistress. | |||
| 02 | 栄光の座によいしれて (Eikou no za ni yoishirete Basking in the Seat of Glory) | November 1972[8] | ISBN 978-4088501086 |
| Marie Antoinette begins openly favouring Fersen. The King dies and Madame Du Barry is sent to a convent. Fersen returns to Sweden. Marie Antoinette spends money lavishly on friends and fashion, despite Oscar telling her that France's finances are in a dire state, and other ladies follow the queen's example. Rosalie looks for work, and is given a livre by Oscar. Rosalie's neighbour, a young boy, steals from a Duke's carriage and the Duke kills him. Oscar sees this but can do nothing, but later in court speaks of it and is challenged to a duel. The queen banishes Oscar from court for a month. During this month, the Queen meets the Countess de Polingac, who becomes her close friend. Oscar meets Robespierre, who tells her that the people are becoming disenchanted with their spendthrift queen. The Countess asks Marie Antoinette for money. | |||
| 03 | ゆるされざる恋 (Yurusarezaru koi Forbidden Love) | April 1973[9] | ISBN 978-4088501161 |
| 04 | 黒い騎士をとらえろ (Kuroi kishi wo toraero Catch the Black Knight) | 1973[10] | ISBN 978-4088501246 |
| 05 | オスカルの苦しみ (Osukaru no kurushimi Oscar's Suffering) | 1973[11] | ISBN 978-4088501314 |
| 06 | 燃えあがる革命の火 (Moeagaru kakumei no hi Flames of the Revolution) | 1973[12] | ISBN 978-4088501376 |
| 07 | 美しき愛の誓い (Utsukushiki ai no chikai Vows of Beautiful Love) | 20 February 1974[13] | ISBN 978-4088501420 |
| 08 | Kami ni mesarete (神にめされて) | 20 March 1974[14] | ISBN 978-4088501451 |
| 09 | Itamashii ouhi no saigo (いたましい王妃の最後) | 20 April 1974[15] | ISBN 978-4088501482 |
| 10 | Gaiden: Kokui no Hakushaku Fujin (外伝 : 黒衣の伯爵夫人) | 20 May 1974[16] | ISBN 978-4088501512 |
| Oscar, André and Rosalie go to visit one of the older sisters of Oscar, Hortense de la Lorancy. While driving to the Lorancys' place, Oscar's carriage is outrun by another carriage with an elegant lady and a beautiful young man sitting in it. When the three arrive they are meet by Hortense and her cheeky daughter Loulou, a girl about eight years old. During a conversation, Hortense comments to her visitors on the strange disappearances of young women that lately were happening in the place where she lives and that is speculated that a sect of vampires is involved.
Hortense decides to organize a ball in honor of Oscar. During the ball, they meet a capricious girl called Caroline de Roufebiur, who takes an immediate liking to Oscar and thus is overly jealous at Rosalie for her closeness to Oscar. At the same ball, the same woman Oscar had seen in the carriage attends. She is called Elizabeth, Comtesse de Montclaire. Oscar is introduced to this woman by Hortense. At first the Comtesse appears to be a friendly person, taking care of Rosalie after she had been humiliated by Caroline. The next day, Oscar, André, Rosalie, Caroline and Loulou go on a picnic in the forest. After Caroline pretends to have sprained her ankle so that Oscar has to come looking for her in the forest the groups eventually loses the way and they aren't able to return to the mansion. to their luck they find themselves near the Montclaire mansion, where Elizabeth receives them warmly as their guests. After dinner Caroline takes Rosalie along to go find the beautiful nephew of the Comtesse, Lionel, deciding that if she can't marry Oscar she can at least marry Lionel and inherit the Montclaire fortune, for Lionel is the sole relative of the Comtesse. Rosalie refuses and Caroline goes off alone. While she is killed by Lionel, who has in fact been a puppet built by a famous clockmaker the Comtesse kidnapped, the Comtesse and her servants try to kill Oscar, Rosalie and André. Yet they manage to escape with the help of Loulou. |
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Compilations published after the completion of the original manga were also successful, especially among women. The following compilations were published:
| Name | Publisher | Number of volumes | Year of publication |
|---|---|---|---|
| Berusaiyu no Bara – Shueisha | Shueisha | 5 | 1976 |
| Berusaiyu no Bara – Shueisha Manga Bunko | Shueisha | 10 | 1977–1978 |
| Berusaiyu no Bara – Chuko Aizôban | Chuokoron Shinsha | 2[17][18] | 1987 |
| Berusaiyu no Bara – Shueisha BunkoChuko Aizôban[19] | Shueisha | 5[20][21] | 1994 |
| Berusaiyu no Bara – Shueisha Girls Remix | Shueisha | 4[22][23] | 2002–2003 |
| Berusaiyu no Bara – Fairbell Comics | Fairbell | 6[24][25] | 2004–2005 |
| Berusaiyu no Bara (Edition Parfaite)[26] | Shueisha | 8[27] Note that the 1980s Gaiden is included in this edition as volume 9[28] | 2005–2006 |
The Berusaiyu no Bara Gaiden series is a collections of short stories written by Riyoko Ikeda. These stories were published in two separate magazines in 1974 (first publication) after the serialization of the manga Berusaiyu no Bara, and 1984–1985 (second publication). The plot revolves around Oscar, André and Rosalie going to visit one of the older sisters of Oscar, Hortense de la Lorancy.
The first publication of Berusaiyu no Bara Gaiden started weeks after the release of the last chapter of the manga The Rose of Versailles, in 1974. The gaiden was serialized, like the manga, in Margaret magazine. This publication consists of one gaiden, "Kokui no Hakushaku Fujin". "Kokui no Hakushaku Fujin" is situated during the incidents of the Black Knight and is inspired by the legend of the countess Elizabeth Bathory, who tortured and murdered many young women by the end of the 16th century. Further gaiden appeared in Monthly Jam (月刊Jam) published by Chuokoron-sha between June 1984 and April 1985, consisting of four stories. Like the earlier gaiden, it is set prior to the rioting, around the time of the Black Knight. Loulou is the main character.
BeruBara Kids ベルばらＫｉｄｓ is a chibi-style Rose of Versailles spin-off by Riyoko Ikeda.[29]
| No. | Release date | ISBN |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | 6 October 2006[30] | ISBN 4-02-330376-3 |
| 02 | 7 August 2007[31] | ISBN 978-4-02-330382-9 |
| 03 | 4 July 2008[32] | ISBN 978-4-02-330394-2 |
| 04 | 9 January 2009[33] | ISBN 978-4-02-330410-9 |
| 05 | 8 January 2010[34] | ISBN 978-4-02-330478-9 |
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