Novel by Abbot Prévost (1697-1763) - Manon Lescaut by A. Giannelli - Abbe Prevost wrote a short novel entitled L'Histoire du Chevaliere des Grieux et Manon Lescaut . The first romantic novel written French language Paris book pathetic tale passionate love French novels story charming amoral girl herself des Grieuxb enchanting young girl whose charms passed all description, who was so delicate, so sweet, so winsome that she seemed love's very self. Never was girl less attached to money than she; but she never knew a moments' peace of mind if there was any fear of lacking it- to be continuously amused was so necessary to her that failing it one could count not at all on her humor or her inclinations. The beautiful creature found her way into the hearts of at least three operatic composers; Auber, Massenet, and Puccini who made her operas bearing her name.