The Wolf-Leader

The Wolf Leader is a fantasy novel by Alexandre Dumas, set around 1780 in Dumas' native town of Villers-Cotterêts, and is supposedly based on a local folk-tale Dumas heard as a child. The story is about a shoe-maker, named Thibault, who is beaten by the gamekeeper of the Lord of Vez for interfering with the lord's hunting. After the beating he encounters a huge wolf, walking on its hind legs like a man, who offers him vengeance; Thibault may wish harm on any person in return for one of his own hairs for each wish. To seal the agreement, the two exchange rings. As a result of this bargain he also finds himself able to command the local wolves, and hence gradually gains the reputation of being a werewolf.