Honoré de Balzac (1799–1850)
Author of Old Goriot
About the Author
Born on May 20, 1799, Honore de Balzac is considered one of the greatest French writers of all time. Balzac studied in Paris and worked as a law clerk while pursuing an unsuccessful career as an author. He soon accumulated enormous debts that haunted him most of his life. A prolific writer, Balzac show more would often write for 14 to-16 hours at a time. His writing is marked by realistic portrayals of ordinary, but exaggerated characters and intricate detail. In 1834, Balzac began organizing his works into a collection called The Human Comedy, an attempt to group his novels to present a complete social history of France. Characters in this project reappeared throughout various volumes, which ultimately consisted of approximately 90 works. Some of his works include Cesar Birotteau, Le Cousin Pons, Seraphita, and Le Cousine Bette. Balzac wed his lifelong love, Eveline Hanska in March 1850 although he was gravely ill at the time. Balzac died in August of that year. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Series
Works by Honoré de Balzac
The Human Comedy: Selected Stories (New York Review Books Classics) (2014) — Author — 299 copies, 4 reviews
Le Colonel Chabert suivi de Trois Nouvelles (Folio Ser., No.593) (French Edition) (1974) — Author — 75 copies
Collected Works of Honore de Balzac with the Complete Human Comedy (Delphi Classics) (2012) 64 copies, 1 review
Maison Du Chat-Qui-Pelo (Folio (Gallimard)) (English, French and Spanish Edition) (French Edition) (1983) — Author — 58 copies, 1 review
The Girl with the Golden Eyes and Other Stories (Oxford World's Classics) (2012) — Author — 52 copies, 1 review
Les Secrets de la princesse de Cadignan et Autres études de femme (1981) — Author — 25 copies, 1 review
Honore de Balzac's Works - Hanska Edition - 21 Volumes - Set 146 of 1000 Copies, 1896, volume ? 23 copies
La Comédie humaine, Tome 1 : Le père Goriot ; Le colonel Chabert : Et autres scènes de la vie privée (2008) — Author — 22 copies
Une double famille, suivi du "Contrat de mariage" et de "L'Interdiction" (1973) — Author — 19 copies
At the Sign of the Cat and Racket, the Ball at Sceaux, and the Purse (Dodo Press) (2006) — Author — 16 copies
El coronel Chabert: Seguido de El verdugo, El elixir de larga vida y La obra maestra desconocida (Reino de Redonda) (Spanish Edition) (2011) 16 copies, 1 review
La Comédie humaine, Tome 4 : La maison Nucingen ; Splendeurs et misères des courtisanes (2008) — Author — 14 copies
Balzac's Works: Volume II: Eugenie Grandet, A Study of Woman, Another Study of Woman, La Grande Breteche, Domestic Peace (1904) 11 copies
El Arte De Pagar Sus Deudas Sin Gastar Un Céntimo - 4ª Edición: En diez lecciones (LITERATURA UNIVERSAL) (2013) 11 copies
Old Goriot / A Marriage Settlement — Author — 10 copies
Philosophic Studies 10 copies
La Muse du Department (The Parisians in Provincial France (French Edition) (2007) — Author — 10 copies
The deputy for Arcis, part I 9 copies
Dime Como Andas, Te Drogas, Vistes Y Comes. . .y Te Dire Quien Eres (Spanish Edition) (1998) 9 copies
The seamy side of history = L'envers de l'histoire contemporaine : and other stories (2010) 9 copies
Seraphita and other stories 8 copies
Von Edelfedern, Phrasendreschern und Schmierfinken: Die schrägen Typen der Journaille (2016) 8 copies
At the Sign of the Cat and Racket / The Ball at Sceaux / Letters of Two Brides. (2008) — Author — 8 copies
Scene della vita privata: Il colonnello Chabert ; Onorina ; L'interdizione (2010) — Author — 7 copies
Folk-Tales of Napoleon Napoleonder from the Russian; The Napoleon of the People from the French of Honoré De Balzac (2015) 7 copies
The Human Comedy Being The Best Novels From The Comedie Humaine of Honore De Balzac Volume One of Three 1893 (One) (1893) 7 copies
The Mysteries of Honoré de Balzac — Author — 7 copies
Short Stories 7 copies
La Comedia humana. Volumen VII: Escenas de la vida de provincia (El Jardín de Epicuro) (Spanish Edition) (2018) 7 copies
Le Colonel Chabert AND Peines De Coeur D'une Chatte Anglaise (Classiques Francais) (1900) — Author — 7 copies, 1 review
Modeste Mignon : and other stories 7 copies
The Village Rector / Albert Savarus — Author — 7 copies
A comédia humana 1 7 copies
La comédie humaine, tome 1 : avant-propos, les chouans, avertissement du gars, les deux rêves - préface et notes de r (1965) — Author — 7 copies
Muse of the Department / Les Employés — Author — 6 copies
La Comédie Humaine, Volume 8: Etudes de moeurs: Scènes de la vie de campagne (1937) — Author — 6 copies
Balzac. Contes drolatiques : Précédés de la Comédie humaine, oeuvres ébauchées, II, préfaces... Etablissement du texte, notices et… (1960) — Author — 6 copies
La Comédie humaine Tome III : Études de moeurs : Scènes de la vie privée, III Scènes de la vie de province, I (1935) — Author — 6 copies
OEUVRES COMPLETES - Tome XXXVI - ROMAN DE JEUNESSE - Jane la Pâle ( Wann-Chlore) (1836) — Author — 6 copies, 1 review
La maison Nucingen ; Les secrets de la princesse de Cadignan ; Les employés ; Sarrazine ; Facino Cane — Author — 6 copies
I capolavori della "Commedia umana" 5 copies
Antsakad lood ; Näidendid 5 copies
Complete Works, Volume VIII: Parisians in the Country / Gaudissart the Great / The Muse of the Department / The Lily of the Valley (1900) 5 copies
Häxan och andra lustiga historier 5 copies
The Peasantry / Pierre Grassou — Author — 5 copies
OEUVRES COMPLETES - Tome XIX - La comédie humaine - La Muse du Département - Béatrix (1966) — Author — 5 copies
The Chouans and The Country Doctor Volume Nineteen 19 (Honore De Balzac in Twenty-Five Volumes The First Complete Translation into English) (1900) 5 copies
LA COMÉDIE HUMAINE VII - études de moeurs. scènes de la vie Parisienne, III scènes de la vie politique, scènes de la vie militaire. (1936) — Author — 5 copies
At the Sign of the Cat and Racket; The Sceaux Ball, The Purse, The Vendetta, Madame Firmiani, A Daughter of Eve, Letters of Two Brides (1900) — Author — 5 copies
OEUVRES COMPLETES - Tome XVI - La comédie humaine - La Rabouilleuse - La Fausse Maîtresse - Autre Etude de Femme - Honorine (1961) — Author — 4 copies
Studi filosofici: Serafita, Gesù Cristo in Fiandra, Melmoth riconciliato, L'elisir di lunga vita — Author — 4 copies
A Marriage Settlement / A Start in Life / A Second Home — Author — 4 copies
A woman of thirty: And other stories 4 copies
LA COMEDIE HUMAINE - tome 6 : le médecin de campagne- Ferragus- La duchesse de Langeais — Author — 4 copies
LA COMEDIE HUMAINE tome 7 : Eugénie Grandet - La recherche de l'Absolu - l'Illustre Gaudissart - Un drame au bord de la mer — Author — 4 copies
Incomincia una vita. La signora Firmiani. Il messaggio. La Messa dell'ateo — Afterword — 4 copies
La commedia umana 4 copies
La Comédie Humaine, tome 1 : Études de mœurs — Author — 4 copies
At the Sign of the Cat and Racket & A Bachelor's Establishment (The Works of Honore De Balzac) (1901) 4 copies
The Works of Honore De Balzac: A Daughter of Eve, A Woman of Thirty, Letters of Two Brides (1901) 4 copies
La Comedie Humaine, Volume IV — Author — 4 copies
Ursule Mirouët and Other Stories — Author — 4 copies
Balzac's Works: Volume VI: Scenes From Country Life: The Country Doctor, The Vendetta, Colonel Chabert (1904) 4 copies
The Deputy from Arcis vol. 2 4 copies
Die Suche nach dem Absoluten: Das unbekannte Meisterwerk. Der versöhnte Melmoth. Ein Drama am Ufer des Meeres (1986) — Author — 4 copies
Tales of the Napoleonic Era: 1-The Chouans, Juana, An Episode Under the Terror & The Napoleon of the People (2010) 4 copies
OEUVRES COMPLETES - Tome XX - La comédie humaine - Les Employés - Les Petits Bourgeois - Les Comédiens sans le savoir - Un Homme d'Affaires (1970) — Author — 4 copies
The Rise and Fall of César Birotteau / Gaudissart the Great — Author — 4 copies
BEATRIX [THE ATHEIST'S MASS / HONORINE / COLONEL CHABERT / THE COMMISSION IN LUNACY / PIERRE GRRASSOU] (1900) — Author — 4 copies
A Marriage Settlement / A Start in Life / A Second Home / Modeste Mignon — Author — 4 copies
The celibates : and other stories 4 copies
Les Grands romans historiques, Tome 2 : Le Colonel Chabert suivi de Une ténébreuse affaire (1978) — Author — 4 copies
La Comédie Humaine, Tome XVIII, - Illusions perdues - Les souffrances de l'inventeur - Modeste Mignon - Gaudissart II — Author — 3 copies
La comedia humana V 3 copies
Modesta Mignon ; Pierwsze kroki ; Albert Savarus — Author — 3 copies
Cesar Birotteau. Das Bankhaus Nucingen. Die Geheimnisse der Fürstin von Cadignan. Gaudissart der Zweite (Die menschliche Komödie, 12) (1982) 3 copies
Inimlik komöödia : stseenid Pariisi elust: kolmeteistkümne lugu ; Ferragus, devorantide peamees ; Hertsoginna de Lang (1896) 3 copies
A Gondreville mystery = Une ténébreuse affaire ; Un episode sous la terreur (2010) — Author — 3 copies
La Comédie humaine, Tome 6 : Le peau de chagrin ; Jésus-Christ en Flandre ; Melmoth réconcilié ; Le chef-d'oeuvre inconnu ; Gambara ; Massimilia… (2008) — Author — 3 copies
La comédie humaine volume 10 3 copies
LA COMEDIE HUMAINE tome17 : Illusions perdues - 1 les deux poètes 2 Un grand homme de province à Paris — Author — 3 copies
L'arte di onorare i debiti e pagare i propri creditori senza scucire neanche un centesimo esposta in dieci lezioni (2015) 3 copies
At the Sign of the Cat and the Racket, A Bachelor's Establishment, Honorine, and other stories 3 copies
The Unconscious Mummers; Facino Cane; An Episode Under The Terror; A Princess's Secrets; The Unknown Masterpiece; Louis — Author — 3 copies
La Comedie Humaine of Honore De Balzac - Seraphita and the Alkahest (Philosophical Studies) (2017) 3 copies
About Catherine de’ Medici / Z. Marcas — Author — 3 copies
La Comédie humaine, Tome 21 : Un drame au bord de la mer ; Maître Cornélius ; L'Auberge rouge ; Sur Catherine de Médicis (2009) — Author — 3 copies
Scenes from Parisian Life: Eighth Volume. The Civil Service; Gaudissart 2; A Prince of Bohemia (1896) — Author — 3 copies
Ferragus / The Duchesse de Langeais / César Birotteau — Author — 3 copies
I capolavori della commedia umana: La donna di trent'anni; Eugenia Grandet; Il medico di campagna; I segreti della principessa di cadignan (1956) 3 copies
Ursule Mirouët / Eugénie Grandet / The Vicar of Tours / An Old Maid / Study of a Woman (1925) 3 copies
Il deputato d'Arcis. II — Author — 3 copies
Die Menschliche Komödie Band 1 Der Gesamtausgabe Sittenstudien, Szenen aus dem Privatleben (1980) 3 copies
The Child of Malediction / A Mad Musician / The King's Friend / Venetian Nights (1900) — Author — 3 copies
Mémoires de deux jeunes mariées (Bac 2023, 1re techno): suivi du parcours « Raison et sentiments » (2022) 3 copies
Modeste Mignon: Colonel Chabert 3 copies
Gobseck / A Woman of Thirty / Old Goriot — Author — 3 copies
Le père Goriot : l'arrivisme et ses victimes, Stendhal, G de Maupassant, R. V. Pilhes... (1983) 3 copies
L'envers de l'histoire contemporaine: (suivi d'un fragment inédit) Les précepteurs en Dieu (1993) 3 copies
Eugénie Grandet, Old Goriot, The Peasantry, The Magic Skin, and Other Stories — Author — 3 copies
La Comédie humaine, Tome 5 : Scènes de la vie de campagne : Le curé du village ; Le lys dans la vallée (2008) — Author — 3 copies
Études de femmes : . Étude de femme. Autre étude de femme. La Femme abandonnée. La Grenadière. Madame Firmiani. Les Secrets de la princesse de… (1971) — Author — 3 copies
La Comédie humaine, Tome 11 : Madame de Firmiani ; La paix du ménage : Scènes de la vie privée (2008) — Author — 3 copies
Les deux rêves — Author — 3 copies
Die Menschliche Komödie. Die großen Romane und Erzählungen: Eine dunkle Affaire. Erzählungen aus der napoleonischen Sphäre (insel taschenbuch) (1996) 3 copies
The Jealousies of a Country Town, The Thirteen, and other stories; — Author — 3 copies
Die Klassiker-Hörbibliothek. 15 ausgewählte Werke der Weltliteratur. Autoren: Balzac, Dickens, Fontane, Poe, Wilde u.v.a. 30 CDs (2006) 3 copies
La Comédie humaine, Tome 22 : Etudes philosophiques : Louis Lambert ; L'élixir de longue vie ; Les proscrits ; Séraphîta (2009) 3 copies
Une tenebreuse affaire ; Une épisode sous la terreur — Author — 3 copies
L' israelita — Author — 3 copies
LA COMEDIE HUMAINE tome 24 : les paysans - l'envers de l'histoire contemporaine — Author — 3 copies
Inimlik komöödia: stseenid provintsielust. Tours'i küree, Vanapiiga, Pierrette, Poissmehe elu 3 copies
Szenen aus dem Privatleben. (Dünndruck). Die Frau von dreißig Jahren und andere Romane. (1985) 3 copies
LA COMEDIE HUMAINE tome 12 : une fille d'Eve - Massimilla Doni - Les secrets de la princesse de Cadignan- Un prince de Bohême - Pierrette - Pierre Grassou- Z.Marcas — Author — 3 copies
La comédie humaine, t.2 3 copies
La paz del hogar ; La querida simulada ; Estudio de mujer ; Otro estudio de mujer ; La gran Bretecha ; Alberto Savarus 3 copies, 1 review
LA COMEDIE HUMAINE tome 8 : Le père Goriot - Gobseck- la fille aux yeux d'or - le contrat de mariage- Melmoth réconcilié — Author — 3 copies
Honore De Balzac Volume Five - The Wild Ass's Skin, La Grande Breteche, A Passion In The Desert (1910) 3 copies
OEUVRES COMPLETES - Tome XIII - La comédie humaine - Mémoires des Deux Jeunes Mariées - Une Ténébreuse Affaire — Author — 3 copies
La Vieille Fille - Le Cabinet des antiques - Illusions perdues I (La Comédie humaine X) (1985) — Author — 2 copies
Obras Estelares (Honoré de Balzac) 2 copies
Balzac's Works, Volume V 2 copies
Honoré de Balzac. Gobseck : Suivi de Facino Cane et de Maître Cornélius. Préface de Frantz André Burget. Notice et notes de S. Samuel Silves (1969) — Author — 2 copies
the works of balzac centenary edition volume IX the lily of the valley, the gallery of antiquities 2 copies
Bristede Forhåbninger. II 2 copies
La casa del gato que pelotea ; El baile de Sceaux ; La bolsa ; La vendetta ; La señora Firmiani ; Doble familia 2 copies, 1 review
La duchesse de Langeais 2 copies
Novels from La Comédie Humaine 2 copies
Künstler und Narren 2 copies
Spécimen des divers caractères, vignettes et ornements typographiques de la Fonderie de Laurent et De Berny (2004) 2 copies
Traité de la prière 2 copies
Eugénie Grandet, tome 2 : Extraits 2 copies
HI Icapolavori della Commedia umana 2 copies
La comedia humana 2 copies
I piccoli borghesi 2 copies
Köy Hekimi 2 copies
Obras Completas. Tomo I 2 copies
The Last Incarnation of Vautrin; Ferragus, Chief of the Devorants; Gobseck; Comedies Played Gratis (2015) 2 copies
Les Petits bourgeois II 2 copies
La recherche de l'absolu: Le chef-d'oeuvre inconnu: Jesus-Christ en Flandre: Melmoth reconcilie 2 copies
Les Ressources de Quinola : comédie en cinq actes, en prose, et précédée d'un prologue (2015) 2 copies
Les contes drolatiques Colligez ez abbayes de Tourayne et mis en lumiere par le Sieur de Balzac pour l'esbattement des Pantagruelistes et non altres (1999) 2 copies, 1 review
Šuani ; Temný příběh 2 copies
A Arte de pagar as suas Dividas e de satisfazer os seus credores sem gastar um cêntimo (2012) 2 copies
Die Menschliche Komödie, Bd. 12 2 copies
Eugénie Grandet - Niveau 2/A2 - Lecture CLE en français facile - Ebook (French Edition) (2020) 2 copies
La Comédie humaine, Tome 9 : La maison du chat-qui-pelote ; Un début dans la vie (2008) — Author — 2 copies
The best of Balzac 2 copies
Novely 2 copies
Os Imortais 2 copies
LA MAISON DU CHAT QUI PELOTE 2 copies
OEUVRES COMPLETES - Tome XV - La comédie humaine - Sur Catherine de Médicis - Le Martyr calviniste - Un Début dans la Vie - Albert Savarus — Author — 2 copies
Selected Short Stories 2 copies
OEUVRES COMPLETES - Tome XXVII - THÉÂTRE - L'Ecole des Ménages - Vautrin - Les Ressources de Quinola — Author — 2 copies
OEUVRES COMPLETES - Tome XXX - ROMAN DE JEUNESSE - Jean-Louis — Author — 2 copies
I skyggen av Bonaparte 2 copies
Studi filosofici: Luigi Lambert. I proscritti ; Addio ; Il requisizionario ; El verdugo — Author — 2 copies
La Comédie humaine, Tome 16 : Gaudissart II ; Les employés ; Les comédiens sans le savoir ; Les petits bourgeois (2009) — Author — 2 copies
La Comédie humaine, Tome 20 : La recherche de l'absolu ; L'enfant maudit ; Adieu ; Les Marana ; Le réquisitionnaire ; El verdugo (2009) — Author — 2 copies
Contes choisis 2 copies
La Comédie Humaine of Honoré De Balzac: Sons of the Soil (French Edition) — Author — 2 copies
TEFECI GOBSECK & UC OYKU 2 copies
Dunkle Geschichten — Author — 2 copies
OEUVRES COMPLETES - Tome IX - La comédie humaine - Louis Lambert - Seraphita - Le Lys dans la Vallée (1967) 2 copies
Honoré de Balzac in twenty-five volumes (v.22): the first complete translation into English (1900) 2 copies
Honoré de Balzac in twenty-five volumes (v.21): the first complete translation into English (1900) 2 copies
La Comédie des Ténèbres 2 copies
A Daughter of Eve & A woman of Thirty (works of) — Author — 2 copies
Béatrix III - Gobsek - La Femme de trente ans - Autre étude de femme : Un adultère rétrospectif (1985) — Author — 2 copies
Kvindetyper 2 copies
La cugina Betta. II 2 copies
César Birotteau - Splendeurs et Misères des courtisanes I (La Comédie humaine XIII) (1986) — Author — 2 copies
La Comédie humaine, Tome 14 : L'illustre Gaudissart ; La muse du département ; La vieille fille ; Le cabinet des antiques (2009) — Author — 2 copies
La Comédie humaine, Tome 15 : Histoire de la grandeur et de la décadence de César Birotteau ; Les secrets de la Princesse de Cadignan ; Facino Cane ; ... Un… (2009) — Author — 2 copies
O elixir da longa vida 2 copies
Избранное 2 copies
17. La busqueda de lo Absoluto II 2 copies
La Comedie Humaine of Honore De Balzac - Juana - Adieu - a Drama on the Seashore - the Red Inn and Others (1899) 2 copies
Honore De Balzac Volumes One to Six: 1: Honore De Balzac, Cousin Pons, at the Sign of the Cat and Racket; 2: Old Goriot, (1920) 2 copies
Collected Works in 10 Volumes vol 8 2 copies
Die Menschliche Komödie. Die grossen Romane und Erzählungen in zwanzig Bänden: Gobseck. Das Haus zur ' Ballspielenden (1996) — Author — 2 copies
La Comédie humaine, Tome 2 : Scènes de la vie de province : Eugénie Grandet ; Ursule Mirouët et deux scènes de la vie privée (2008) 2 copies
La Comédie humaine, Tome 12 : Béatrix ; La femme de trente ans : Scènes de la vie privée (2008) — Author — 2 copies
I capolavori di Honore de Balzac 2 copies
La Comédie humaine, Tome 10 : Modeste Mignon ; Albert Savarus : Scènes de la vie privée (2008) — Author — 2 copies
Correspondance avec Zulma Carraud — Author — 2 copies
Parisienne 2 copies
La comedia humana VI 2 copies
Lettres à sa famille, 1809-1850 ; comprenant une série de lettres de Madame de Balzac à son fils 2 copies
Cousin Bette / Pierre Grassou / The Girl with the Golden Eyes — Author — 2 copies
La comedia humana IV 2 copies
Les journalistes : monographie de la presse parisienne ; suivi de, Des salons littéraires (1998) 2 copies
Die menschliche Komödie Band 7 - Die alte Jungfer, Das Antiquitätenkabinett & Der berühmte Gaudissart — Author — 2 copies
The Wild Ass Skin 1 copy
La Comedie Humaine of Honore de Balzac Vol. VI The Country doctor, The Vendetta, Colonel Chabert 1 copy
Balzac short stories 1 copy
Gobseck / Old Goriot 1 copy
Лилия долины : роман 1 copy
Kopoti raksti : 12 sēj. 1 copy
Гобсек Повесть 1 copy
Obras Completas VI 1 copy
Шагреневая кожа 1 copy
Die tödlichen Wünsche 1 copy
La Filandiere 1 copy
Toni el descuidado 1 copy
La Duchesse De Langeais 1 copy
La Cousine Bette extraits I 1 copy
Balzac's Works 1 copy
La peau de chagrin 1 copy
La Peau de chagrin 1 copy
La fausse maitresse 1 copy
Obras Maestras I 1 copy
La Comedie humaine tome 7 1 copy
собрание сочинений 1 copy
Old Goriot / César Birotteau 1 copy
Kopoti raksti : 12 sēj. 1 copy
Obras Completas II 1 copy
The student's Balzac 1 copy
Obras Completas IV 1 copy
Die menschliche Komödie : [Werkausgabe in 40 Bänden] 21 Das Bankhaus Nucingen : Erzählungen (1991) 1 copy
Etudes de moeurs. 2e livre. Scènes de la vie de province. T. 1. Les célibataires : Pierrette (French Edition) (2011) 1 copy
Balzac. Obras I 1 copy
[Избранные произведения] Пер. с фр - Отец Горио. Гобсек. Неведомый шедевр. Полковник Шабер. Обедня… 1 copy
Kobieta porzucona 1 copy
Obras Completas III 1 copy
Honoré de Balzac levelei 1 copy
Obras Completas I 1 copy
Η εξαδέλφη Μπέττη 1 copy
Obras Completas V 1 copy
OBRAS INMORTALES 1 copy
Illusions Perdues Volume 1 1 copy
Der Scharlatan 1 copy
Ilusiones perdidas 1 copy
Eine dunkle Geschichte Roman 1 copy
Louis Lambert, Les Proscrits, Jesus-Christ en Flandre — Author — 1 copy
Z. Marcas ; The other side of contemporaneous history: first episode. Madame de la Chanterie, second episode, The novice (2010) 1 copy
EUGENE GRANDET 1 copy
L'Oeuvre... 1 copy
Illusions Perdues Volume 2 1 copy
Malé veľdiela 1 copy
Los dos poetas 1 copy
LA COMÉDIE HUMAINE 1 copy
Juan Luis 1 copy
Frisprk̄iga historier 1 copy
La comedia humana, tomo V 1 copy
La comedia humana, tomo IV 1 copy
Vedma 1 copy
L'Oeuvre de Balzac, Tome 02 : La comédie Humaine, Etudes de Mœurs au XIXe siècle (1962) — Author — 1 copy
La comedia humana, tomo II 1 copy
L'Oeuvre de Balzac, Tome 12 : La comédie Humaine, Etudes de Mœurs au XIXe siècle, Etudes Philosophiques et Analytiques (1962) — Author — 1 copy
L'Oeuvre de Balzac, Tome 11 : La comédie Humaine, Etudes de Mœurs au XIXe siècle, Romans du passé (1962) — Author — 1 copy
L'Oeuvre de Balzac, Tome 10 : La comédie Humaine, Etudes de Mœurs au XIXe siècle, Romans du passé (1962) — Author — 1 copy
L'Oeuvre de Balzac, Tome 09 : La comédie Humaine, Etudes de Mœurs au XIXe siècle (1962) — Author — 1 copy
La Comédie Humaine of Honoré De Balzac: Père Goriot, the Marriage Contract V. 2. Memoirs of Two Young Married Women. Albert Savarus (French Edition) — Author — 1 copy
L'Oeuvre de Balzac, Tome 03 : La comédie Humaine, Etudes de Mœurs au XIXe siècle (1962) — Author — 1 copy
Los Comediantes sin saberlo 1 copy
L'Oeuvre de Balzac, Tome 08 : La comédie Humaine, Etudes de Mœurs au XIXe siècle (1962) — Author — 1 copy
L'Oeuvre de Balzac, Tome 07 : La comédie Humaine, Etudes de Mœurs au XIXe siècle (1962) — Author — 1 copy
L'Oeuvre de Balzac, Tome 06 : La comédie Humaine, Etudes de Mœurs au XIXe siècle (1962) — Author — 1 copy
L'Oeuvre de Balzac, Tome 05 : La comédie Humaine, Etudes de Mœurs au XIXe siècle (1962) — Author — 1 copy
L'Oeuvre de Balzac, Tome 04 : La comédie Humaine, Etudes de Mœurs au XIXe siècle (1962) — Author — 1 copy
La comedia humana, tomo III 1 copy
Сцены частной жизни, 1981 г. 1 copy
Capolavori 1 copy
Nàng tình nhân hờ 1 copy
Bông huệ trong thung 1 copy
La comedia humana, tomo I 1 copy
Eugénie Grandet : Roman. — Author — 1 copy
De vises sten 1 copy
Cica Gorio 1 copy
pierrette o prior de tours 1 copy
Lão Goriot 1 copy
Eugenia Grandet 1 copy
Eugènie Grandet 1 copy
La comedia rumana V 1 copy
La comedia humana XXVII 1 copy
Novelas 1 copy
Werke 1 copy
Elveszett illúziók II-III 1 copy
Le Pere Goriot 1 copy
Le Cure De Tours 1 copy
Cuentos 1 copy
Tajne Kneginje de Kadinjan 1 copy
L'Oeuvre de Balzac, Tome 16 : Correspondance? Paris, Chrolonogie et Répertoire (1962) — Author — 1 copy
Texte et contextes : Balzac, Le Père Goriot — Author — 1 copy
A falusi orvos 1 copy
Cămătarul (Gobseck) 1 copy
Mutivoda 1 copy
Izgubljene iluzije 1 copy
Cuentos picarescos 1 copy
BALZAC OPERE VOL I - VII 1 copy
Honorine-la paix du menage-madame firmiani-la vendetta-la grande breteche. ill par toudouze, roy, cortazzo. (1927) 1 copy
Rekrut ; Marany ; El Verdugo ; Dramat nad morzem ; Czerwona oberża ; O Katarzynie Medycejskiej 1 copy
La comedia humana. Tomo V 1 copy
Tante Lisbeth 1 copy
Stracone złudzenia ; Dwaj poeci ; Wielki człowiek z prowincji w Paryżu ; Cierpienia wynalazcy 1 copy
H. de Balzac. La Cousine Bette . [Introduction, notes et relevé de variantes par Maurice Allem.] 1 copy
Scenes de la Vie Parisienne, Premiere Serie: La Comtesse a deux Maris, Madame Firmiani, Sarrasine, Le papa Gobseck, La Bourse (1839) 1 copy
A tizenhármak története 1 copy
Eugénie Grandet - La Recherche de l'absolue - L'illustre Gaudissart - Un Drame au bord de la mer 1 copy
La Comédie Humaine - La Rabouilleuse - La Fausse Maitress - Autres Etudes de Femme - Honorine 1 copy
Kawalerskie gospodarstwo 1 copy
Eiženija Grandē : [romāns] 1 copy
Scenes of Parisian Life, Fourth Volume : Cousin Bette (continued), The Girl with the Golden Eyes, Etc. (1896) 1 copy
The Bankrupt 1 copy
Οἱ ἑταῖρες τοῦ Παρισιοῦ 1 copy
Los pequeños burgueses 1 copy
Stratené ilúzie 1 copy
BALZAC Honoré de & - La comédie humaine. Volume VI : Etudes de moeurs : scènes de la vie parisienne, II. (1950) 1 copy
Gorio tēvs : romāns 1 copy
Komedia ludzka II 1 copy
Der Alchimist 1 copy
La Comedia humana 1 copy
peau de chagrin, La 1 copy
Papà Goriot 1 copy
Goriot apó regény 1 copy
Louis Lambert 1 copy
The Atheists Mass-41 1 copy
A falusi plébános 1 copy
La ricerca dell'assoluto 1 copy
LA RABOUILLEUSE. 1 copy
Elveszett illúziók regény 1 copy
Balzac's shorter stories 1 copy
Ferragus kisregény 1 copy
Le Père Goriot (Une Présentation, Extraits, Un Résumé, Des Jugements sur Balzac et le Père Goriot) (1969) 1 copy
Wroeging 1 copy
Elveszett illúziók 1 copy
Le pere Goriot, extraits 1 1 copy
Werke Bd. 1 1 copy
Werke Bd. 2 1 copy
Tolldrastische Geschichten. 1 copy
Berthe la repentie 1 copy
Maximen und Gedanken 1 copy
La casa dei melograni 1 copy
A kalandor 1 copy
Le Cabinet des antiques . [Introduction, notes et appendice critique par Pierre-Georges Castex.] 1 copy
Annette et le criminel 1 copy
Le curé de Tours: Pierrette 1 copy
Ztracené iluze 1 copy
Femeia de treizeci de ani 1 copy
I celibi: romanzo 1 copy
L'Oeuvre de Balzac: extraits 1 copy
Scritti critici 1 copy
Best of Balzac: a Passion in the Desert and Thirteen Other Masterpieces of Artful Ribaldry By Honore De Balzac (1958) 1 copy
Obras, I 1 copy
La Rabouilleuse. [Introduction, notes, bibliographie et choix de variantes par Pierre Citron,...] 1 copy
La Derniere Fee: Tome Second 1 copy
O lírio do vale 1 copy
La comedia humana. Tomo XXIX 1 copy
La comedia humana. Tomo XX 1 copy
La comedia humana. Tomo XI 1 copy
La comedia humana. Tomo IV 1 copy
Ztracené iluse. Kniha první 1 copy
La Comedia Humana - Vol. III 1 copy
La Comedia Humana - Vol. VII 1 copy
La comedia humana. Tomo II 1 copy
A falusi plébános 1 copy
BALZAC Honoré de & - La comédie humaine. Volume V : Etude de moeurs : scènes de la vie parisienne, I. (1952) 1 copy
Chłopi ; Lekarz wiejski 1 copy
Fisiología del matrimonio 1 copy
La Comedia Humana - Vol. II 1 copy
SHTËPIA MISTERIOZE 1 copy
CONTOS 1 copy
Die Frau von dreißig Jahren 1 copy
Eine dunkle Affäre Roman 1 copy
Das unbekannte Meisterwerk 1 copy
Vetter Pons Roman 1 copy
La Peau De Chagrin 1 copy
Perijätär : Eugénie Grandet 1 copy
Die Börse 1 copy
Old Goriot [annotated] 1 copy
La Pell de xagrí 1 copy
Balzac: Cousin Bette 1 copy
Human Comedy Volume 3 1 copy
El Lliri de la vall 1 copy
At the sign of the cat and racket ; The ball at Sceaux ; The purse ; Madame Firmiani ; Pierrette 1 copy
Lily of the Valley 1 copy
Ilusões perdidas 1 copy
Eu gènia Grandet 1 copy
El lliri de la vall 1 copy
The Athiest's Mass 1 copy
El arte de pagar deudas 1 copy
BALZAC Honoré de & - La comédie humaine. Volume IV : Etudes de moeurs : scènes de la vie de province , Tome II. (1952) 1 copy
The Quest of the Absolute / Seraphita — Author — 1 copy
Oeuvres complètes - Vol. 27: Les employés. Un prince de la Bohème. Gaudissart II. Pierre Grassou. 1 copy
La comédie humaine volume 16 1 copy
La comédie humaine, tome XX — Author — 1 copy
La comédie humaine volume 22 1 copy
La comédie humaine volume 15 1 copy
La comédie humaine volume 21 1 copy
La comédie humaine volume 19 1 copy
La comédie humaine volume 5 1 copy
La comédie humaine volume 18 1 copy
La comédie humaine volume 11 1 copy
La comédie humaine volume 4 1 copy
La comédie humaine, tome XIX 1 copy
Stories from Balzac; 1 copy
Le livre mystique. T. I. Louis Lambert. Les proscrits. — Author — 1 copy
Pariser Novellen 1 copy
Novels and Dramas, I-II 1 copy
La comédie humaine, tome XXV 1 copy
La comédie humaine, tome XXIV — Author — 1 copy
La comédie humaine, tome XXI 1 copy
La comédie humaine, tome XIV — Author — 1 copy
La comédie humaine volume 23 1 copy
Keski-ikäinen nainen 1 copy
Théatre 1 copy
Honore de Balzac in Twenty-Five Volumes: The First Complete Translation Into English Volume 25 (2013) 1 copy
úrsula mirouet 1 copy
ATEIST AYINI 1 copy
Naamioitua rakkautta 1 copy
Les litanies romantiques 1 copy
Le dôme des Invalides 1 copy
L'opium 1 copy
Le pacte 1 copy
Le Colonel Chabert, Gobseck, La Bourse, La Grenadière, L'interdiction. Scènes de la Vie Privée — Author — 1 copy
Οι χωριάτες 1 copy
le club des amis du livre 1 copy
Le curé de Tours. Pierrette 1 copy
La Comédie Humaine of Honoré de Balzac Volume VI: The Country Doctor; The Vendetta; Colonel Chabert 1 copy
Balzac : Werke [aus der Reihe: Die großen Klassiker – Literatur der Welt in Bildern, Texten, Daten] (1982) 1 copy
Oeuvres complètes - Vol. 20: Illusions perdues, II. Un grand homme de province à Paris (suite). 1 copy
Emberi színjáték. 9. 1 copy
Emberi színjáték. 10. 1 copy
La comédie humaine volume 3 — Author — 1 copy
Obras Completas(tomo IX) 1 copy
The physiology of marriage ;: Petty troubles of married life; Vautrin; The resources of Quinola; Pamela Giraud (The Works of Honore de Balzac, v. XXXIII-XXXIV) — Author — 1 copy
Honorato de Balzac 1 copy
La Comedie Humaine. La Maison du Chat-qui-Pelote. Le Bal de Sceaux. La Bourse. La Vendetta. Madame Firmiani. La Fausse Maitresse. Étude des Femme. Albert Savarus. — Author — 1 copy
Four Stories — Author — 1 copy
Théâtre XXVII 1 copy
Gesammelte Werke, Ehefrieden. Novellen. Übersetzt von Friedrich von Oppeln- Bronikowski und Emmi Hirschberg. (1952) 1 copy
A Marriage Contract — Author — 1 copy
La Comédie Humaine, Volume 10: Etudes philosophiques, II; Etudes analytiques (1937) — Author — 1 copy
Théâtre 1 copy
La comedia humana III 1 copy
La Cousine Bette extraits II — Author — 1 copy
Nucingen-ház ; Chabert ezredes ; A vörös vendégfogadó — Author — 1 copy
La comedia humana VII 1 copy
Eugénie Grandet / History of the Thirteen — Author — 1 copy
Úradníci. Lesk a bieda kurtizán — Author — 1 copy
Gambara, and other stories 1 copy
Honorine, and other stories 1 copy
Komedia ludzka - tom IX: Znakomity Gaudissart; Muza z zaścianka; Stara panna; Gabinet starożytności — Author — 1 copy
Komedia ludzka - tom VI: Pukownik Habert; Msza Ateusza; Kuratela; Kontrakt ślubny; Drugie studium kobiety — Author — 1 copy
Shorter Stories from Balzac 1 copy
I Romanzi vol. II 1 copy
Die Frau Konnetable. Reprint der Ausgabe von 1922 im Verlag Bruno Cassirer mit den Illustrationen von L. Corinth. (1975) 1 copy
Balzac - seis cuentos 1 copy
Peasantry / The Country Parson (Volume 20 of 25 Volume Set of the First English Translation of Balzac's Works) (1900) 1 copy
The Works of Honore De Balzac Volume 33: About Catherine De Medici and Christ In Flanders (1915) 1 copy
The Chouans; Gondreville Mystery & Muse of the Department - The Works of ... - Aldus Edition De Luxe Vol. XVI of XX (1900) 1 copy
Parisians In The Contry - Gaudissart The Great, The Muse Of The Department, The Lily Of The Valley 1 copy
Droll Stories, Le Bourg 1 copy
The Wisdom of Balzac 1 copy
סיפורים נפוליאוניים 1 copy
Honore De Balzac 6 Volumes 1 copy
Ergoetzliche Geschichten. 1 copy
The Lily of the Valley; The Country Doctor, and Other Stories (The Works of Honore De Balzac, Volume IX) (1901) 1 copy
Correspondence 1 copy
The Poor relations. volume 1 1 copy
Kisan 1 copy
THE HUMAN COMEDY Scenes of Parisian Life Volume VIII The Civil Service Gaudissart II A Prince of Bohemia (1896) 1 copy
Eine Evastochter / Das Haus zur ballspielenden Katze / Der Ball von Sceaux / La Vendetta / Die Börse / Die Messe des Atheisten (1984) 1 copy
Scènes de la vie privée 1 copy
Sons of the Soil 1 copy
A Second Home 1 copy
Jean-Louis. Copilul renegat. 1 copy
Obras Completas. Tomo lv 1 copy
The Works of Honore de Balzac - The Magic Skin (La Peau de Chagrin) and other stories, Volume I 1 copy
Kaluštra / Lilija v dolini 1 copy
La comedie humaine: 26 vol., romans de jeunesse: 9 vol., theatre: 2 vol. (37 volumes, complet) (1967) 1 copy
Scènes de la Vie Privée, Vol. 3: La Femme de Trente Ans; Le Contrat de Mariage; Beatrix (Classic Reprint) (French Edition) (2017) 1 copy
Old Goriot / The Vicar of Tours / Gobseck — Author — 1 copy
Ce Qui Disparait De Paris 1 copy
Portraits et Silhouettes 1 copy
(Comedia humana 31) Petrilla 1 copy
Honoré de Balzac, volume six 1 copy
Los soladados del imperio 1 copy
Les Oeuvres de Balzac 1 copy
Histoire de la grandeur et de la décadence de César Birotteau – suivi d'annexes: Nouvelle édition 2019 (French Edition) 1 copy, 1 review
Imperias Ehe. 1 copy
Stati a korespondence 1 copy
Azucena en el valle 1 copy
La comédie humaine volume 14 1 copy
Die menschliche Komödie: Der Ehevertrag / Die Entmündigung / Eine doppelte Familie / Das Eheglück 1 copy
Contos Picarescos 1 copy
Wie leichte Mädchen lieben. 1 copy
EL ARTE DE PAGAR LAS DEUDAS Y SATISFACER A LOS ACREEDORES SIN DESEMBOLSAR UN CENTIMO, EN DIEZ LECCIONES (2018) 1 copy
Jesus Christ in Flanders, Vol. 2: Melmoth Converted; The Elixir of Long Life; Seraphita (Classic Reprint) (2018) 1 copy
The Works of Honoré De Balzac, Vol. 8: Eugénie Grandet, Great Man of the Provinces in Paris (Classic Reprint) (2016) 1 copy
Monographie de la presse parisienne précédée de l'Histoire véridique du canard par Gérard de Nerval (Libertés) (1965) 1 copy
Do Vestir e Do Comer 1 copy
La Comédie Humaine 16 - Splendeurs et misères des courtisanes, L'Envers de l'histoire contemporaine 1 copy
Pułkownik Chabert 1 copy
Comédie Humaine: 10 - Scènes de la vie parisienne tome 2 (29-9-44), La by Honoré de Balzac (1799 - 1 1 copy
La Fille Aux Yeax D'or 1 copy
A comédia humana 1 copy
Old Goriot / Ferragus 1 copy
Las marana : novela 1 copy
Grandes escritores da literarura francesa- box 3 volumes: A mulher de trinta anos/ a dama das camélias/ Madame Bovary (2019) 1 copy
Sönmüş Hayaller I 1 copy
La storia del tredici. 1 copy
LA RABOUILLEUSE. 1 copy
Jezus Christus in Vlaanderen 1 copy
Short Stories. Ed. A Raitt. 1 copy
La comédie humaine: 3: Études de moeurs: scènes de la vie privée, 3; scènes de la vie de province, 1 1 copy
Oberst Chabert Novellen 1 copy
Il colonnello Bridau 1 copy
The Commission in Lunacy 1 copy
A Comédia Humana - v.4 1 copy
Tutto il teatro: la scuola delle famiglie, Vautrin, le risorse Quinola, Paméla Giraud, La matrigna, L'affarista (1994) 1 copy
A Comédia Humana - v.3 1 copy
A Comédia Humana - v.1 1 copy
A Comédia Humana - v.2 1 copy
L'élixir de longue vie 1 copy
H. de Balzac. Le Colonel Chabert, suivi de Honorine et de l'Interdiction. Avec une introduction et des notes par Maurice Allem (1932) 1 copy
Oeuvres complètes de Honoré de Balzac 15 : La Comédie humaine ; P. 2 : Études philosophiques 1 1 copy
L'église 1 copy
Études de mœurs II 1 copy
Études de mœurs I 1 copy
Lebensbilder II 1 copy
Lebensbilder I 1 copy
At the Sign of the Cat and Racket, the Ball at Sceaux, the Purse, Madame Firmiani, Pierrette (1914) (2010) — Author — 1 copy
La Comédie Humaine Of Honoré De Balzac Vol. 15 Gallery of Antiquities, An Old Maid, The Illustrious Gaudissart (2018) 1 copy
La Comédie Humaine, Vol. 4: Albert Savarus Paz. Madame Firmiani Translated by Katharine Prescott Wormeley (2018) 1 copy
The Marriage Settlement (Le Contrat de Marriage) and Other Stories — Author — 1 copy
Lost illusions : The two poets; A provincial great man in Paris; The trials of an inventor, vol. I (2010) 1 copy
Lost illusions : The two poets; A provincial great man in Paris; The trials of an inventor, vol. III 1 copy
Louis Lambert / Seraphita 1 copy
La Femme De Trente Ans: La Femme Abandonnée - La Greanadière - Le Message - Gobseck (French Edition) (2010) 1 copy
Die menschliche Komödie. Gesamtausgabe in zwölf Bänden mit Anmerkungen und biographischen Notizen über die Romangestalten (1971) 1 copy
Oeuvres complètes de Honoré de Balzac 16 : La Comédie humaine ; P. 2 : Études philosophiques 2 1 copy
Gesammelte Werke 1 copy
The Member for Arcis / The Seamy Side of History (The Works of Honoré de Balzac, Volume XVI) (1901) 1 copy
Pariser Leben III 1 copy
Pariser Leben I 1 copy
Maxims 1 copy
Die Frau von 30 Jahren 1 copy
La Comedie humaine 1 copy
BALZAC: OBRAS COMPLETAS 1 1 copy
Die menschliche Komödie, Bd. 3. Ein Junggesellenheim, Das Antiquitätenkabinett, Die Lilie im Tal 1 copy
Gleðisögur 1 copy
Comedia umana, volumul I 1 copy
About Catherine de Medici / Gambara — Author — 1 copy
La prima Bela. Tomo I 1 copy
Die Bauern - Der Landarzt 1 copy
La casa Nucingen ; Los secretos de la princesa de Cadiñán ; Los empleados ; Sarrasine ; Facino Cane 1 copy, 1 review
Los Maranas ; Adiós ; El quinto ; El verdugo ; Un drama a orillas del mar ; La posada roja ; El elixir de la larga vida ; Maese Cornelio 1 copy, 1 review
Associated Works
Choice Cuts: A Savory Selection of Food Writing from Around the World and Throughout History (2002) — Contributor — 367 copies, 2 reviews
The Sophisticated Cat: A Gathering of Stories, Poems, and Miscellaneous Writings About Cats (1992) — Contributor — 112 copies, 1 review
Lovers & Other Monsters: A Collection of Amorous Tales of Fantasy, Old and New (1993) — Contributor — 64 copies, 1 review
The World of Law, Volumes I-II: The Law in Literature, The Law as Literature (1960) — Contributor — 54 copies
Demons of the Night: Tales of the Fantastic, Madness, and the Supernatural from Nineteenth-Century France (1995) — Contributor — 52 copies
Grolier Classics: Crime and Punishment, Diary of Samuel Pepys, Confessions of Saint Augustine, Paradise Lost (1955) 29 copies
Out of the Best Books: An Anthology of Literature, Vol. 4: The World Around Us (1968) — Contributor — 28 copies
Isaac Asimov Presents : The Best Horror and Supernatural of the 19th Century (1983) — Contributor — 21 copies, 1 review
The Ribald Reader: 2000 Years of Lusty Love and Laughter (1906) — Contributor — 19 copies, 2 reviews
Library of the World's Best Mystery and Detective Stories: French, Italian, Spanish and Latin (2009) — Contributor — 18 copies
Oogst Der Tijden. keur uit de werken van schrijvers en dichters aller volken en eeuwen (1940) — Contributor — 12 copies
The Duchess of Langeais [2007 film] — Original book — 7 copies
I magnifici 7 capolavori della letteratura francese (eNewton Classici) (Italian Edition) (2013) 5 copies
The Masterpiece Library of Short Stories Vol. III: French — Contributor — 4 copies
Historie osobliwe i fantastyczne : nowela francuska od Cazotte'a do Apollinaire'a — Contributor — 4 copies
Piirakkasota; valikoima huumoria — Contributor — 3 copies
Der Zauberspiegel. Phantastische Erzählungen der Weltliteratur — Contributor — 2 copies
The dead Leman, and other tales from the French — Contributor — 2 copies
The Masterworks Program: Joseph Andrews/The Red and the Black/Pere Goriot/Great Expectations (1962) 1 copy
Narrativa romántica francesa — Contributor — 1 copy
Opowiadania Pisarzy Francuskich Dziewiętnastego Wieku — Contributor — 1 copy
Tales for a Stormy Night — Author, some editions — 1 copy
Gefährliche Ferien - Bretagne und Atlantikküste: mit Martin Walker und vielen anderen (detebe) (2019) — Contributor — 1 copy
On the Nature of Things / The History of Henry Esmond / Old Goriot / The Praise of Folly / The Way of All Flesh (1947) — Contributor — 1 copy
Le monde des passions en 30 dissertations: Balzac, Hume, Racine: programme 2015-2016 (2015) — Contributor, some editions — 1 copy
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Canonical name
- Balzac, Honoré de
- Legal name
- Balzac, Honoré
- Other names
- де Бальзак, Оноре
дьо Балзак, Оноре - Birthdate
- 1799-05-20
- Date of death
- 1850-08-18
- Gender
- male
- Education
- Collège de Vendôme
Sorbonne University - Occupations
- novelist
- Organizations
- Société des gens de lettres (Président, 18 39 | 18 40)
Le Figaro (Journaliste)
Revue des deux Mondes (Journaliste)
La Presse (Journaliste)
Le Constitutionnel (Journaliste)
Le Siècle (Journaliste) (show all 8)
Revue de Paris (Journaliste)
Etude notariale de Jean-Baptiste Guillonnet-Merville, Paris (Clerc de notaire, 18 16 | 18 19) - Awards and honors
- Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur (1845)
- Relationships
- Surville, Laure (Soeur)
- Cause of death
- peritonitis
- Nationality
- France
- Birthplace
- Tours, Indre-et-Loire, Centre-Val-de-Loire, France
- Places of residence
- Paris, Île-de-France, France
Tours, Indre-et-Loire, Centre-Val-de-Loire, France - Place of death
- Paris, Île-de-France, France
- Burial location
- Cimetière du Père-Lachaise, Paris, France (48e division, 1ère ligne, Q, 9)
- Associated Place (for map)
- France
Members
Discussions
Balzac: Père Goriot in Author Theme Reads (March 2013)
Balzac: Eugénie Grandet in Author Theme Reads (March 2013)
Balzac: Splendeurs et misères des courtisanes (A Harlot High and Low) in Author Theme Reads (March 2013)
Balzac: Lost Illusions in Author Theme Reads (March 2013)
Honoré de Balzac - Resources and General Discussion in Author Theme Reads (January 2013)
Pere Goriot by Honore De Balzac - Second half & Final Impressions in Group Reads - Literature (February 2009)
Pere Goriot by Honore De Balzac - First half of the book in Group Reads - Literature (January 2009)
Group Read: Pere Goriot by Honore De Balzac - who's in? in Group Reads - Literature (January 2009)
Reviews
When recently published fiction disappoints, I turn to nineteenth century French literature. It has never let me down. [b:Cousin Bette|59144|Cousin Bette|Honoré de Balzac|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388880372l/59144._SY75_.jpg|1028809] is only the second novel by Balzac that I've read; the first was [b:Old Goriot|578367|Old Goriot|Honoré de show more Balzac|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1397873613l/578367._SY75_.jpg|72392] more than decade ago. Looking at my review of that, the prominent theme of money poisoning relationships is very similar. However [b:Cousin Bette|59144|Cousin Bette|Honoré de Balzac|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388880372l/59144._SY75_.jpg|1028809] is a much more compelling melodrama, as frequently comic as it is tragic. While Balzac is a clear precursor of Zola in his depiction of corruption in French society, he has a tendency to editorialise that Zola's stricter realism did not permit. Although a couple of Balzac's interjections are rather antisemitic, most are entertaining and revealing:
Once I'd established who everyone was and the plot had got going about fifty pages in, I found [b:Cousin Bette|59144|Cousin Bette|Honoré de Balzac|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388880372l/59144._SY75_.jpg|1028809] extremely involving. While undertaking a certain amount of social critique, Balzac constructs an operatically elaborate family drama. At a few points I laughed with delight at his audacity. These moments invariably involved the combined machinations of Bette and Valérie, an amoral and incredibly manipulative pair that I could not help admiring. I think the highlight is when Valerie gets pregnant and convinces FOUR different men, none of them her actual husband, that they are the father of her child:
[b:Cousin Bette|59144|Cousin Bette|Honoré de Balzac|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388880372l/59144._SY75_.jpg|1028809] is full of fascinating female characters and is notably named after one whose constant duplicity is never discovered. These women are more vivid, complex, and sympathetic than the men, despite their sometimes appalling deeds. Men may have the political and economic power in Restoration France, but women are depicted as tougher emotionally and able to use that power to great effect. While the narrative states explicitly that certain women are virtuous and certain are wicked, most are some measure of both. Moreover, the most virtuous woman in the book gets no reward for it and latterly realises that wicked women are better off than she. Balzac blames men for the unjust situation of wives who are effectively abandoned:
Bette is particularly interesting for being neither wife nor mistress. She remains enigmatic and independent throughout. Yet, like everyone else in the book, she is preoccupied with love and money. Although these concerns are hardly unique to Paris in the 1840s, Balzac vividly evokes the specifics of that time with details of clothing, furnishings, art, and manners. I found [b:Cousin Bette|59144|Cousin Bette|Honoré de Balzac|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388880372l/59144._SY75_.jpg|1028809] a highly accomplished work of literature that is also a delight to read. show less
Valérie was anxious to be seen in fresh bright surroundings, in order to appear attractive to Monsieur le Directeur, attractive enough to have the right to be cruel, to play hard to get, with all the art of modern tactics; as if she were holding a sweetmeat out to tantalise a child. She had taken Hulot's measure. Give a hard-pressed Parisian woman twenty-four hours to work and she can bring down a government.
Once I'd established who everyone was and the plot had got going about fifty pages in, I found [b:Cousin Bette|59144|Cousin Bette|Honoré de Balzac|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388880372l/59144._SY75_.jpg|1028809] extremely involving. While undertaking a certain amount of social critique, Balzac constructs an operatically elaborate family drama. At a few points I laughed with delight at his audacity. These moments invariably involved the combined machinations of Bette and Valérie, an amoral and incredibly manipulative pair that I could not help admiring. I think the highlight is when Valerie gets pregnant and convinces FOUR different men, none of them her actual husband, that they are the father of her child:
Thanks to these tactics, based on the pride and conceit of man in his capacity of lover, Valérie had four delighted men round her table, all excited and under her spell, each believing that he was adored; Marneffe [Valérie's husband] dubbed them in a jocose aside to Lisbeth, including himself in the band, the five Fathers of the Church.
[b:Cousin Bette|59144|Cousin Bette|Honoré de Balzac|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388880372l/59144._SY75_.jpg|1028809] is full of fascinating female characters and is notably named after one whose constant duplicity is never discovered. These women are more vivid, complex, and sympathetic than the men, despite their sometimes appalling deeds. Men may have the political and economic power in Restoration France, but women are depicted as tougher emotionally and able to use that power to great effect. While the narrative states explicitly that certain women are virtuous and certain are wicked, most are some measure of both. Moreover, the most virtuous woman in the book gets no reward for it and latterly realises that wicked women are better off than she. Balzac blames men for the unjust situation of wives who are effectively abandoned:
Hortense was a wife, but Valérie was a mistress.
Many men desire to have these two editions of the same work, although it is proof of deep inferiority in a man if he cannot make his wife his mistress. Seeking variety is a sign of impotence. Constancy will always be the guardian spirit of love, evidence of immense creative vigour, the vigour that makes a poet!
Bette is particularly interesting for being neither wife nor mistress. She remains enigmatic and independent throughout. Yet, like everyone else in the book, she is preoccupied with love and money. Although these concerns are hardly unique to Paris in the 1840s, Balzac vividly evokes the specifics of that time with details of clothing, furnishings, art, and manners. I found [b:Cousin Bette|59144|Cousin Bette|Honoré de Balzac|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388880372l/59144._SY75_.jpg|1028809] a highly accomplished work of literature that is also a delight to read. show less
My adventures into La Comedie Humaine continue with this fascinating little novella from near the start of Balzac's writings, one which lay dormant as a lesser-known work for many years until it became the subject of fascination in the later 20th century - you can easily see why both for how it reflects much more modern concerns and ideas than its 1830 publication date and also for its fascinating and rich tapestry of ideas, symbols and meanings - it's fitting that it obsessed thinkers like show more Bataille or Barthes (who authored an entire book analyzing it) given how key obsession itself is to the story. It would be getting into spoilers to reveal too much more but suffice to say this might be the finest thing I've read in French yet, magnificently written and dizzying with beauty, thought and images such that I ended up staying up late into the night to finish it and then found myself struggling to sleep for not being able to stop thinking about it afterwards. The kind of literature I'm always searching for such that it's deeply rewarding when I find it, and a superb mixture of the Gothic, romantic, and proto-modern. Balzac may well be on the way to becoming my favourite writer if the rest of the cycle bears more fruits such as these. show less
Artist and His Model (1926) - by Pablo Picasso
This New York Review Books edition is indeed a classic since it includes not only two highly philosophical works by French master Honoré de Balzac on the nature of art and music but also an illuminating introductory essay by philosopher of art/art critic Arthur C. Danto. For the purposes of my review I will focus the author's tour de force, The Unknown Masterpiece.
The story revolves around three painters - Porbus, Poussin and Frenhofer. Porbus show more can be seen as the Flemish painter Frans Pourbus, Poussin, the master Nicolas Poussin in his youth and Frenhofer, the true genius in the story, is a creation of Balzac’s imagination. After reading and falling in loving with this short work, many are the artists who have linked themselves to Frenhofer, including Picasso, Matisse and Cézanne.
Rather than simply recapping events within the story, I will turn to a number of provocative philosophical questions raised by Balzac’s tale. Firstly, there is the matter of art as a form of magic. In his essay on The Unknown Masterpiece included in this NYRB edition, Danto states: "From the perspective of magic, every image has the possibility of coming to life, and perhaps the first images every drawn, however crudely executed, were viewed with an awe that still remains a disposition of the most primitive regions of the human brain. This is why images have been forbidden in so many of the great religions of the world, and why they have been destroyed in the name of iconoclasm. It is why Plato was afraid of art, and drove artists from his Republic."
At one point Frenhofer judges a portrait painted by Probus: “You can see she’s pasted on the canvas – you could never walk around her.” To paint in such a way that the viewer can mentally walk around a woman, man, animal, plant or other object painted on canvas requires rendering a two dimensional plane into three dimensions, technical expertise developed in the Western artistic tradition over centuries, reaching staggering heights beginning in the period of the renaissance. Yet to really vitalize a painting, an added ingredient is needed. What shall we call it? Genius, perhaps? If any image can come to life, even those first images created in the dawn of humanity as Danto notes, how powerful and magical is a painting infused by highly polished technique coupled with the spark of genius? Now institutions and champions of the status quo who fear the power of the image really have something to worry about.
Frans Pourbus the Younger - Portrait of Isabella Clara Eugenia, around 1600-1615
Nicolas Poussin - detail from Eliezer and Rebecca at the Well, l648
For the artists in the tale, as for nearly all artists, is it any accident hot-blooded passionate love for another person is so much a part of their lives and has such an influence on their art? There’s something both inspiring and intoxicating about love, most especially erotic love, and how eroticism mixed in with the mystery of artistic creation is nothing less than explosive. Frenhofer exclaims, “Oh! I would give all I possess if just once, for a single moment, I could gaze upon that complete, that divine nature; if I could meet that ideal heavenly beauty, I would search for her in limbo itself!”
And the female nude? Oh, yes, as Balzac details in his story, the keg of dynamite that is erotic love becomes supercharged even further when an artist takes a woman’s nudity as the subject. Again, Frenhofer: “Poetry and women show themselves naked only to their lovers!” And the female who poses nude for Frenhofer? The beautiful Gillette, the loving mistress of Poussin. You will have to read for yourself to find out exactly how Balzac’s story unfolds.
Shifting our focus to a slightly different topic, does the sense of place participate in this creative and artistic magic? In the spirit of his realistic prose, Balzac notes the exact locations of the artist’s studios – Rue des Grands-Augustins, Pont Saint-Michel, Rue de la Harpe. Ah, Paris! Such a magnet for artists. So inspired was Pablo Picasso by Balzac's story, he moved his studio to Nº 7 Rue des Grands-Augustins.
Lastly, at the very end of the story, along with Porbus and Poussin we encounter the masterpiece Frenhofer has spent the last ten years of his life painting. From Balzac’s description, can you see what the artist wishes you to see? And what does it mean to know a masterpiece? Taking Picasso’s Artist and His Model pictured above, what would it mean to come to know this work of art? Or maybe a better question would be: Could we ever completely know such art? Does a measure of power derive from its mystery? And there’s that foot! Echoes of Frenhofer and Balzac? show less
I read this after a long, unfulfilling, opaque, modernist novel. Suffice to say, my palate is cleansed. As ever, Balzac, despite the fact that he couldn't write a decent sentence if you gave him a copy of Gide's collected works and told him you didn't mind if he plagiarized one, holds your attention by exaggerating everything to absurd dimensions, including his sense of his own importance. You want to know what capitalism looks like? It looks like this. Grandet makes Scrooge look like some show more soft-hearted dandy's version of greed.
***
"Misers hold no belief in a life beyond the grave, the present is all in all to them. This thought throws a pitilessly clear light upon the irreligious times in which we live, for today more than in any previous era money is the force behind the law, politically and socially. Books and institutions, the actions of men and their doctrines, all combine to undermine the belief in a future life upon which the fabric of society has been built for eighteen hundred years. The grave holds few terrors for us now, is little feared as a transition stage upon man's journey. That future which once awaited us beyond the Requiem has been transported into the present. To reach per fas et nefas an early paradise of luxury and vanity and pleasure, to turn one's heart to stone and mortify the flesh for the sake of fleeting enjoyment of earthly treasure, as saints once suffered martyrdom in the hope of eternal bliss, is now the popular ambition! It is an ambition stamped on our age and seen in everything, even the very laws whose enaction requires the legislator to exercise not his critical faculty, but his power of producing money. Not 'What do you think?' but 'What can you pay?' is the question he is asked now. When the doctrine has been handed down from the bourgeoisie to the people, what will become of our country?" show less
***
"Misers hold no belief in a life beyond the grave, the present is all in all to them. This thought throws a pitilessly clear light upon the irreligious times in which we live, for today more than in any previous era money is the force behind the law, politically and socially. Books and institutions, the actions of men and their doctrines, all combine to undermine the belief in a future life upon which the fabric of society has been built for eighteen hundred years. The grave holds few terrors for us now, is little feared as a transition stage upon man's journey. That future which once awaited us beyond the Requiem has been transported into the present. To reach per fas et nefas an early paradise of luxury and vanity and pleasure, to turn one's heart to stone and mortify the flesh for the sake of fleeting enjoyment of earthly treasure, as saints once suffered martyrdom in the hope of eternal bliss, is now the popular ambition! It is an ambition stamped on our age and seen in everything, even the very laws whose enaction requires the legislator to exercise not his critical faculty, but his power of producing money. Not 'What do you think?' but 'What can you pay?' is the question he is asked now. When the doctrine has been handed down from the bourgeoisie to the people, what will become of our country?" show less
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