A Daughter of Eve
A DAUGHTER OF EVE (Une Fille d'Eve) is a novel published for the first time in 1838.
The Countess Marie de Vandenesse is happily married to the Count Félix. Her jealous friends are little by little convincing her that she won't be completely happy until she takes a lover. She will fall in love with the writer and journalist Raoul Nathan, a brilliant mind implicated in politics but secretly despised by the aristocrats. Nathan, at first only flattered t... A Marriage Settlement
A MARRIAGE SETTLEMENT (Le Contrat de Mariage), also known as "The Marriage Contract" was first published in 1835.
The Count of Manerville, tired of being a bachelor, decides to leave Paris and to come back to Bordeaux, home of his ancestors. There, it seems that he can't but fall in love with Miss Evangelista, the queen of the local social life. Soon, their future marriage is the talk of the town. Now there's only one point to settle : the marriage co... A Start in Life
A START IN LIFE (Un Début dans la Vie) is a novel published in 1842 by Honoré de Balzac.
Oscar Husson is 17 years old and has just completed high school. His mother, who has devoted herself to her son, has found for him a job with a future at Mr. Moreau's mansion in the country nearby. But young Oscar, filled up with vanity, will talk too much in the convey during the journey and offend a passenger who'll reveal himself to be Oscar's future employer.
... A Woman of Thirty
A WOMAN OF THIRTY (La Femme de Trente Ans), a novel divided in six parts, has been written between 1828 and 1844.
The novel tells the story of Julie D'Aiglemont over a 25 years period. She married, as a young girl, the Marquis d'Aiglemont, who deceived very soon the romantic dreams of Julie. While the Marquis wasn't understanding his wife's languidness, Lord Grenville, an english noble and doctor, managed to cure Julie from her neurosis and be loved b...
Balzac booklist
Albert Savarus
ALBERT SAVARUS has been first published in 1842.
Albert, during a trip in Switzerland falls madly in love with the princess Francesca Colonna who's married to an old prince. Both swear to themselves that they will enjoy their love only after the Prince's death and after Albert has earned a public recognition that would make him worthy of her noble lover. For years, they would express their love to each other only by letters. Now Albert has the opportu... Eugenie Grandet
In the French town of Saumur, respected wine-seller Felix Grandet sees his daughter Eugenie as a source of revenue. Felix possesses a great fortune already, but he knows that, if he gives Eugenie to the right man, he'll earn even more. Two families, the Cruchots and the Des Grassins, dispute this privilege, hoping Eugenie will bring a good dowry to the union, though Felix makes himself look like a modest merchant.
One night, Eugenie's cousin Charle... Gobseck
GOBSECK is a novel first published in 1830.
This is the story of Gobseck, an old usurer who knows all the secrets of the high society of the Paris at the beginnings of the 19th century. We'll learn how helps a wealthy Count to dispossess his own wife who's squandering her fortune for her much younger lover.
... La Fausse Maîtresse
LA FAUSSE MAITRESSE is a novel first published in 1841.
The Count Paz, the close and poor friend of the Count Laginski, falls madly in love with his friend's new wife, the Countess Du Rouvre. Obliged to stay at his friend's house, Paz, fearing that the countess would fall in love with him, will pretend that he has a mistress in Paris. As this false mistress is no more than a prostitute, the Countess will lose all interest in Paz's life. But will Paz b... La Maison du Chat-Qui-Pelote
LA MAISON DU CHAT-QUI-PELOTE is a novel written in 1819 by Balzac.
The painter Théodore de Sommervieux falls in love with Augustine, the daughter of an old clothier. After two years of sheer happiness, Théodore is beginning to remark the deficiencies of Augustine's education. The young woman is unable to become integrated in the circle of Théodore's noble friends and her husband is neglecting her more and more.... Letters of Two Brides
LETTERS OF TWO BRIDES (Mémoires de Deux Jeunes Mariées) is a novel first published in 1841.
Two young noble women leave the convent where they were destined to become religious figures. For a 17 years period, they will exchange letters describing their life. Renée, coming from a noble but poor family, has decided to marry Louis, a bourgeois of the country. She will dedicate her life to motivate her husband, to help him hold a position in the society a...
Honoré de Balzac list of books
Pere Goriot
Father Goriot had been a wealthy middle class business man. When he got older he sold his business and gave most of his money to his two daughters whom he doted on. He planned to live with them and their families, but they had married into higher social positions and found him beneath him. He now lives in a boarding house, denying himself everything so that he can still give the little he has to the extravagent daughters who never have enough money,... The Ball at Sceaux
THE BALL AT SCEAUX (Le Bal de Sceaux) is a novel written in 1819.
This is the story of Emilie, a young noble girl looking for a husband. She wants him perfect, noble, wealthy and spiritual. Her family is relieved when, at last, the young girl falls in love with Maximilien, a young man she sees at a ball in Sceaux. After three months of flirting, everybody comes back to Paris. A few days later, Emilie discovers that Maximilien is a salesman in a store.... The Purse
THE PURSE (La Bourse) is a novel written in 1832.
The painter Hippolyte Schinner falls in love with the young woman who lives in the building where he's rented a studio. Soon, he's going to spend all his evenings in the small apartment of the young girl who lives with her mother. Both women seem very poor but from a noble background, they also play cards in the evenings with a wealthy gentleman who lost every night a small amount of money. Hippolyte w... Une Double Famille
UNE DOUBLE FAMILLE has been first published in 1831 before becoming integrated in the Human Comedy in 1842.
The Count de Granville marries a young girl of his hometown and brings her to Paris. The Countess is a bigot who refuses to share with the Count the social life of the big city. After a few years, the Count's love for his wife wanes. One day, on his way home, the Count notices a poor young woman through the windows of an old building. He will f... Vendetta
VENDETTA (La Vendetta) is a novel written by Balzac in 1830.
The Di Piombos and the Portas are two Corsican families that have been engaged in a terrible vendetta (serie of acts of revenge) once. Now, Ginevra di Piombo and Luigi Porta have fallen in love in Paris, unaware of the bloody history of their families. So when Ginevra presents Luigi to her father whom she's always worshipped, the world collapses for the young woman. She's forced by the Baron...
