Résumé
The story follows the journey of a young, disfigured boy named Gwynplaine who is abandoned and rescued by a traveling showman, Ursus.
Gwynplaine becomes a famous performer because of his grotesque, perpetual grin.
The narrative explores his life and his romance with the blind girl, Dea, before his true identity as a nobleman is revealed, forcing him to navigate the aristocratic world that caused his suffering. The novel is a critique of 17th-century English aristocracy.