Since Maeterlinck desired the play be published in book form, his mother tightened her budget and gave him 250 francs.

[1] Maeterlinck mailed a copy of his play to Stéphane Mallarmé, from whom it was eventually passed to Octave Mirbeau, who wrote a very warm review of the work in August 1890 for Le Figaro.

Paul Fort and his associate Lugné-Poë quickly penned a public letter insisting that Antoine or no-one would be the first director of Princess Maleine.

As a result, Maeterlinck's first play wasn't performed by professional actors in France until 1962, although there were several puppet productions shortly after publication.

She refuses to abandon her love for Hjalmar, and is locked in a tower while war erupts and her entire family is killed.

She learns that the prince is now affianced to Uglyane, whose mother the mysterious Queen Anne has seduced old King Hjalmar.

Queen Anne, upon discovering Maleine's identity, coaxes King Hjalmar into helping her kill the princess.