This pleasing little book for younger readers was written by Madame Backker (formerly Herbster) and tells the story of two sisters fleeing from persecution at the time of the French Revolution who seek refuge underground (hence the title). One very interesting literary aspect is that the story refers to "le banquier Thelluson" that in English would be pronounced "Tellson". Now Charles Dickens in his "Tale of Two Cities" refers to "Tellson's Bank" and although this has always supposed to have been Child's Bank in Fleet Street the reader is left wondering if Dickens had read "Le Souterrain" and name had stuck in his memory.