[...] Bernard de Montreagou was a very handsome man, tall, with broad shoulders, well-built and with a well-groomed appearance; however, he was more of a countryman, smelling more like a forest than a boudoir and salons. Nevertheless, the truth is that he did not appeal to the ladies as much as he should have, despite being handsome and rich. And the reason was his shyness, his shyness and not his noble birth. The ladies exerted an irresistible attraction on him and caused him insurmountable fear. As much as he liked them, he feared them just as much. This is the origin and the root cause of his radical misfortune. When he saw a lady for the first time, he preferred to die rather than address her, and no matter how much he found her to his taste, he remained in front of her immersed in gloomy silence" his feelings were only revealed through his eyes, which he rolled in a terrifying way. This cowardice exposed him to all kinds of misfortunes, and above all prevented him from forming an honest relationship with humble and reserved women and left him defenseless against the most daring and audacious adventures. This was the unhappiness of his life. [...]

And if the Bluebeard was not the one we all know from the fairy tale of Charles Perrault? A terrifying figure, tyrannical and bloodthirsty husband, who made his wives disappear one after the other? If, on the contrary, he was a generous lord, inexperienced in life, shy and clumsy with ladies, and so gullible that he constantly fell victim to them, until he met a tragic end?

This version is narrated with humor by Anatole France, wishing to "restore the name" of this legendary figure.