Guillaume Apollinaire's 'Les trois Don Juan' is a short, strange play that feels more like a dream than a traditional story.

The Story

Don Juan is a legendary figure, the ultimate charmer. But what if there wasn't just one? Apollinaire imagines a world where three different Don Juans—each from a famous version of the tale—exist at the same time. They meet, they talk, they maybe even argue about who the 'real' Don Juan is. There's not a lot of action in the usual sense. The drama comes from watching these legendary characters bump into each other and question their own stories. It's a clever conversation about fame, fiction, and the masks people wear.

Why You Should Read It

This isn't a book you read for plot twists. You read it for the sheer, playful intelligence of it. Apollinaire was a poet and a pioneer of modern art, and you can feel that here. He takes something everyone knows—the Don Juan story—and asks, 'What if we looked at this differently?' It's funny, a bit absurd, and makes you think about how we create heroes and villains in stories. The characters feel less like people and more like ideas having a chat, which is exactly the point.

Final Verdict

Perfect for readers who love classic myths but want to see them challenged. If you enjoy quick, thought-provoking reads that play with form—think of it as a literary experiment—you'll get a kick out of this. It's also a great peek into the mind of a major modernist writer without having to commit to a huge novel. Give it an hour of your time and let Apollinaire's unique imagination surprise you.