Martin Guerre by Alexandre Dumas

Classic story from the multi-volume collection Celebrated Crimes. Based on an historical incident, this story served as the basis for two great movies: Le Retour de Martin Guerre starring Gerard Depardieu, and Sommersby starring Jody Foster and Richard Gere. According to Wikipedia: Martin Guerre, a French peasant of the 16th century, was at the center of a famous case of imposture. Several years after the man had left his wife, child, and village, a man claiming to be Guerre arrived. He lived with Guerres wife and son for three years. The false Martin Guerre was tried, discovered to be a man named Arnaud du Tilh and executed. The real Martin Guerre had returned during the trial. The case continues to be studied and dramatized to this day.