The Black Tulip proffers the readers a magnanimous range of human emotions, ranging from hatred, greed, loyalty, jeal…The Black Tulip proffers the readers a magnanimous range of human emotions, ranging from hatred, greed, loyalty, jealousy, obsession, and above all the 3 most striking emotions of tolerance, love, and dedication! The first-seven chapters with gruesome political-historical content and neighbor-hatred turned out to be tough and gritty for me (due to my oblivion towards the topic). The first few chapters put forward the cruel ghastly politics of the 17th-century Dutch where 2 dutchmen are butchered by the mob (in the course of the political state of affairs)!Once I was past these tough chapters, the story gathered for me and I stayed riveted. Without imperiling the readers' interest and not sharing any spoilers (Though I guess the blurb reveals a lot more 😊 )- Two brothers are murdered by the mob in course of political events, and the main character of the story Cornelius (the godson of one of the brothers), fanatic about tulips, is wrongly incarcerated, due to the jealousy of his neighbor, Boxtel.It is a story of his sheer nerve and courage to bring about his dream of growing black tulip to fruition. On this quest, the jailer’s daughter, Rosa, who ultimately becomes the love of his life, aids him.I know Cornelius has been propounded as the hero of the story by Dumas, but for me Rosa clearly stands out to be the one, showcasing the strongest form of love for Cornelius, helping him sail through all thick and thin. She constantly finds herself having to compete with the tulip for his affection. One of her emotional remarks–“I have made a grievous blunder; it may be I have ruined Cornelius, the tulip, and myself. I have given the alarm, and perhaps awakened suspicion. I am but a woman; these men may league themselves against me, and then I shall be lost. If I am lost that matters nothing,—but …