In this modern-day resetting of the story on which the opera, Carmen, was based, four teens tell of half-gypsy Carmen, who believes she will become a famous singer, military cadet Ryan's passion for her, and their best friends' efforts to protect them both.

"Steven Pimlott's grand-scale production ... expresses vividly the world of smugglers, soldiers, bullfighters, flamenco dancers, procession and carnival--a celebration of life before the final death. Maria Ewing sings the part of the hot-blooded, passionate Gypsy with all the the tempermant and fury that the role demands, progressing from fun-loving woman through her savage treatment of Don Jose to her confrontation with death"--Contaniner.

DigiCat Publishing presents to you this special edition of "The Mantle, and Other Stories" by Nikolai Vasilevich Gogol. DigiCat Publishing considers every written word to be a legacy of humankind. Every DigiCat book has been carefully reproduced for republishing in a new modern format. The books are available in print, as well as ebooks. DigiCat hopes you will treat this work with the acknowledgment and passion it deserves as a classic of world literature....

Carmen, a beautiful and sultry gypsy, woos the corporal Don José. Their relationship leads to his rejection of his former love, mutiny against his superior, and joining a gang of smugglers. His jealousy when she turns from him to the bullfighter Escamillo leads to murder.