Carmen is the most famous novella of French author Prosper Merimee, it formed the basis of the composer Bizet's acclaimed opera of the same name, and is presented here in hardcover. The titular Carmen is a Romani woman of astounding beauty, attracting many would-be suitors and romantic partners with both her physical charms and intense knowledge of fortune telling. The fast-paced and high-blooded drama combines lustful romance with tragedy, whereby jealousy and anger combine to form three episodes fitfully cascading with tension. The final part of the book is a non-fictional account of the Romani people, with whom Merimee held a fascination. It was through study of the customs and practices of the Romani that he wrote this book, which itself became a scholarly source as well as the inspiration for Bizet's world famous operatic composition.