Nice to read a short story from Balzac's "Scenes from Private Life" which doesn't end in misery! ( )

Another entry from the Scenes From Private Life section of Balzac's Human Comedy, The Purse follows the emotional struggles of a young artist who falls (literally, it seems) for a young attractive neighbor, but finds himself torn by guilt and suspicion. Elements of class bias and the presumptive judging of people's appearances cloud the mind of the up-and-coming painter as he puzzles over why the target of his affection and her mother live in what appears to be thinly-disguised poverty. A pseudo-detective fable reminiscent of O. Henry's Gift of the Magi, The Purse also contains other common themes present throughout Balzac's Human Comedy, including love, emotion, artists, and historical context - in this case, the aftermath of Napoleon's reign. ( )

The Purse is a brief novella (less than 34 pages) that falls within the larger context of Balzac’s La Comédie humaine (The Human Comedy). Briefly, this series is devoted to Parisian life during the 19th century: social realism. Balzac was one of the first to use this method in fiction. In, The Purse, Balzac looks at how we perceive others and the criteria we use to do so. Paranoia comes into play. The fear of communing and being associated with the wrong crowd is dominant. Money influences most actions, including love. Despite the fact this novella is part of a larger collection; it holds its own independently. Yet, it is better understood in relation to the author’s larger body of work. If you wish to get an overall sense of Balzac’s texts, read Cousin Bette. Otherwise, take the time to indulge yourself in the brilliant Balzac collection, The Purse, included. ( )