The Black Tulip : Kessinger Publishing : 9781419154218 : 1419154214 : 17 Jun 2004 : The Black Tulip is a historical fiction novel written by Alexandre Dumas. The story is set in the Netherlands during the 17th century and revolves around the quest of a young man named Cornelius van Baerle to grow a black tulip, which is considered the ultimate symbol of perfection and beauty. Cornelius is a skilled horticulturist who dreams of creating a new variety of tulip that would earn him fame and fortune. However, his ambitions are thwarted by the political turmoil of the time, as the country is ruled by the harsh and oppressive regime of the Stadtholder, William of Orange. Cornelius is falsely accused of treason and imprisoned in the fortress of Loevestein, where he meets the jailer's daughter, Rosa, who becomes his ally and confidante. Together, they hatch a plan to smuggle out the bulbs of the black tulip and enter them into the prestigious tulip-growing competition in Haarlem, where the winn