"Ursula" (original French title "Ursule Mirouet," 1842) forms one part of "Scenes from Provincial Life," a series of novels-whose other major work is "Eugenie Grandet"-examining manners and morals in the French provinces. --- Among all the novels of Honore de Balzac (1799-1850), none depicts so penetratingly the small-mindedness, avarice, and envy of the provincial lower middle classes. In "Ursula," no limitations based on morality or decency will hold these people back in their effort to acquire wealth and influence. --- Along with Stendhal, Balzac is the most important French novelist of...
"Ursula" (original French title "Ursule Mirouet," 1842) forms one part of "Scenes from Provincial Life," a series of novels-whose other major work is ...
To tell the truth, there is more power than taste throughout the "Histoire des Treize, " and perhaps not very much less unreality than power. Balzac is very much better than Eugene Sue, though Eugene Sue also is better than it is the fashion to think him just now. But he is here, to a certain extent competing with Sue on the latter's own ground. The notion of the "Devorants" -- of a secret society of men devoted to each other's interests, entirely free from any moral or legal scruple, possessed of considerable means in wealth, ability, and position, all working together, by fair means or...
To tell the truth, there is more power than taste throughout the "Histoire des Treize, " and perhaps not very much less unreality than power. Balzac i...
The third, and briefest, part of a trilogy called The History of the Thirteen, "The Girl with the Golden Eyes" is one piece of the vast tableaux of Balzac's Human Comedy. The "Thirteen" are a secret society. "The Girl with the Golden Eyes" contains some of Balzac's most intense observations of 19th Century Parisian society. It tells the story of a beautiful young woman seduced by a servant of "The Thirteen." The other two parts of The History of the Thirteen may also be of interest: "Ferragus, " and "The Duchesse de Langeais." Each contains Balzac's sharp-eyed observations of human frailty...
The third, and briefest, part of a trilogy called The History of the Thirteen, "The Girl with the Golden Eyes" is one piece of the vast tableaux of Ba...
"Considering the "Histoire des Treize" as a whole, it is of engrossing interest. And I must confess I should not think much of any boy who, beginning Balzac with this series, failed to go rather mad over it. I know there was a time when I used to like it best of all, and thought not merely "Eugenie Grandet, " but "Le Pere Goriot" (though not the "Peau de Chagrin), " dull in comparison. Some attention, however, must be paid to two remarkable characters, on whom it is quite clear that Balzac expended a great deal of pains, and one of whom he seems to have...
Book II of Balzac's 'The Thirteen"
"Considering the "Histoire des Treize" as a whole, it is of engrossing interest. And I must confess I should not...
Already famous for his novels, in the 1830s HonorE Balzac undertook a series of tales as full of human understanding as of dalliance and lusty conniving: the rowdy, Rabelasian Droll Stories. "Who does not love the warm attack of life . . . when it flows thus round the heart and engulfs everything?" None know this better than the good old Canon of Notre Dame. Coming to Paris naked as a dagger, he soon proves a favorite confessor to the ladies. Then a high-born beauty awards him a prize: the relic of a Saint . . . a bone, the ladies say, that will cure anything This omnibus volume includes...
Already famous for his novels, in the 1830s HonorE Balzac undertook a series of tales as full of human understanding as of dalliance and lusty conn...
Honora de Balzac is the narrator of this novel about Louis Lambert, a child prodigy. Balzac and Lambert are portrayed as students in Paris. They are both social outcasts who develop a love of philosophy. After a psychic dream, Lambert writes a metaphysical treatise that is later destroyed by a teacher. Lambert and Balzac have conflicting views and Lambert moves to Paris for further study. Lambert ultimately moves to the country to live with his uncle, falls in love, and gradually goes insane.
Honora de Balzac is the narrator of this novel about Louis Lambert, a child prodigy. Balzac and Lambert are portrayed as students in Paris. They are b...
Cousin Bette was Balzac's last great novel, and in it he explores power, lust, deception, and revenge. The characters are complex and vividly drawn. Cousin Bette is a woman of breath-taking malice. She plans and executes a diabolic plot of revenge against her own family for slights more imagined than real, destroying herself in the process.
Cousin Bette was Balzac's last great novel, and in it he explores power, lust, deception, and revenge. The characters are complex and vividly drawn. C...
Ursula was written in 1842 and is part of Scenes from Provincial Life, which is a part of the larger work The Comedy Human. The story depicts the struggle of the lower class to obtain wealth and power at any means. Supernatural elements are used in this classic "Who Done It."
Ursula was written in 1842 and is part of Scenes from Provincial Life, which is a part of the larger work The Comedy Human. The story depicts the stru...
The fjords of Norway create an enchanting setting for this story. Seraphita is an angel, both half-man and half-woman. The metaphysical plot involves two mortals who are in love with Seraphita, but the angel is in the last days of life and beyond earthly love. This novel is part of Balzac's La Comedie Humaine.
The fjords of Norway create an enchanting setting for this story. Seraphita is an angel, both half-man and half-woman. The metaphysical plot involves ...
Gobseck began as a cabin boy and worked his way up while traveling around the world. He became rich and a miser. His philosophy of never helping anyone because "adversity is the greatest of all teachers" was well known. He also believed that all the peoples of the world were really very much alike because money was the greatest common denominator.
Gobseck began as a cabin boy and worked his way up while traveling around the world. He became rich and a miser. His philosophy of never helping anyon...
