This is Balzzc’s fifth in the series of the Scènes de la vie privée (Scenes of Private Life) in La Comédie humaine. It is a story about a young spoileThis is Balzzc’s fifth in the series of the Scènes de la vie privée (Scenes of Private Life) in La Comédie humaine. It is a story about a young spoiled woman Modeste Mignon whose father Colonel Miignon loses his fortune. He then leaves her in the care of his friend Dumay and goes to China to recoup his losses.
Modeste Mignon is a young provincial woman with a vivid imagination and a romantic temperament. She pretends to be in love imagines with the famous Parisian poet Melchior de Canalis. She writes a letter to him, but he is unmoved by her attentions. Canalis invites his secretary Ernest de la Brière to write to her. Ernest replies to Modeste pretending to be Canalis' and falls in love with her visiting Modeste's home town of Ingouville (near Le Havre) disguised as Canalis.
She finds out she has been pretending to be the poet and is furious. Her father has returned and been successful in recovering his wealth. Canalis and a Duke find out she is an heiress and along with Ernest want her as a wife. Ernest, Canalis and the Duc d'Hérouville are invited to Ingouville to compete for the hand of Modeste. In the end there is no surprise who Modeste chooses.
Its a story based on two fairy tales and apparently Bslzac’s own experiences with young female admirers. ...more
**spoiler alert** Balzac does like to pad his stories. These three short stories are about a secret society of thirteen Parisian crooks who are superb**spoiler alert** Balzac does like to pad his stories. These three short stories are about a secret society of thirteen Parisian crooks who are superb at everything they do. Balzac was obsessed with secret societies and even started his own which ended up being a dinner club.
The first story is Ferragus the head of the society. The story is about misunderstanding between a loving couple Jules and Clemence. She secretly sees her father Ferragus an escaped criminal and is seen. Her husband misinterprets the liaison as her having an affair leading to his wife’s death essentially from guilt?
The second story The Duchess of Langeasis is drawn on an affair Balzac had which was not consummated. In the story a soldier returns from Africa and falls in love with the Duchess who initially sees him as another fool to have in her power. She is a coquette and Armand realizes he has been played as a fool and wants revenge. She then falls in love with him but he refuses to reciprocate and then when he changes his mind it is too late. She becomes a nun and goes to a convent on Majorca. Armand eventually finds her and with the 13 tries to kidnap her but is to late as she has died when they find her. All a bit over the top but entertaining.
The Girl with the Golden Eyes is about s member of the 13 seducing a woman who turns out to be the lover of his sister. His sister murders her snd heads off to a nunnery. De Marsay the protagonist is a member of the 13 and s thoroughly horrible human being. Vain, egotistical and a narcissist.
These stories developed as the first stages of the Human Comedy. Balzac’s great works. ...more
Not a bad story where Balzac gives his version of a perfect society or one at least where the people are happy and in their place! A soldier visits anNot a bad story where Balzac gives his version of a perfect society or one at least where the people are happy and in their place! A soldier visits an isolated valley where a doctor through hard work has improved the lot of the local community selfishly.
The book is very pro Napoleon with the soldier waxing lyrical about his brilliance and of having met him. The Doctor also sees him as a genius which he was although also very nepotistic.
I did enjoy the character descriptions and the countryside sounded idyllic. My edition also had some lovely illustrations. Balzac uses the doctor to outline his own theories about how to arrange society and democracy is not his chosen political system.
This was my 200th book for the year and not a bad one to end the year....more
Excellent story. Balthazar Claes the head of a wealthy Flemish family becomes obsessed with discovering the philosophers stone. The nuances of the stoExcellent story. Balthazar Claes the head of a wealthy Flemish family becomes obsessed with discovering the philosophers stone. The nuances of the story are enthralling as first his wife and her martyrdom and then his daughter Marguerite tries to make him see sense.
This for me was a story about obsession and the hopeless, selfish tyranny of a fixed idea. Claes goes through his own fortune and his wife’s although she puts some aside for her four children. Set in the city of Douai in France in a great house where we watch as it is stripped of value. There is also the details of the movie nor characters such as Lemulquinier his manservant who believes in his master’s madness.
I came across 11 Balzac novels in a charity shop and now looking forward to reading the others....more
**spoiler alert** I loved this story. Greed, piety and both the good and bad sides of human nature or greed and virtue. The story was published in 184**spoiler alert** I loved this story. Greed, piety and both the good and bad sides of human nature or greed and virtue. The story was published in 1841 and is part of Balzac’s Scènes de la vie de province. The action takes place in Nemours, though with flashbacks to Paris. It is set in the years 1829–1837.
The story centres around Ursule. A major influence is the new Napoleonic Code and a law specifying that property and capital must be inherited solely via family connections. Dr Minoret is a widower whose children have died in infancy. Ursule is his niece, but she is his illegitimate protected god-daughter – not a natural heir. This means she will inherit nothing. In the village Minoret’s relatives have already divided up his wealth. Although they are concerned the doctor will work out a way to leave his niece his estate.
Ursule is brought up by her Godfather and two other elderly virtuous gentleman. There are some holes in the plot. The supernatural element and how the doctor suddenly goes from being an atheist to religious man due to magnetism. When the villain Mirouet-Levrault gets hold of the doctors will and destroys it. Surely a man as intelligent as the Doctor would have made a copy and lodged it with his friend the magistrate.
Putting those holes aside the story is excellent with remorse and guilt eating away the villainous Mirouet. The ending with the Desiree accident, the mother going insane and the change in the villains morality were entertaining. It was nice to have a happy ending for Ursule and Savinien....more
Having finished A Harlot High and Low I was keen to read the book that set the scene Lost Illusions, it did not disappoint. Lucien Chardon the main chHaving finished A Harlot High and Low I was keen to read the book that set the scene Lost Illusions, it did not disappoint. Lucien Chardon the main character is poor but his impoverished mother is of aristocratic descent. He lives in the provinces in Angoulême. He is poor, completely spoilt, lazy, impatient, handsome and wants to get ahead. His widowed mother, sister Ève and his best friend, David Séchard all spoil him and support his high opinion of his talents as a poet and writer.
The book is divided into three parts. His rise in the town and support by Mme de Bargeton a leading figure in society. In Paris she realises that Lucien is lowly born and takes appropriate action. The second part of the book is Lucien’s time in Paris and his rise. However, he neglects his poetry and book writing to become a journalist or a better term would be a blackmailer. He has the chance to take the high road but chooses the easy, debauched life where he gets his just desserts.
The third part of the book is his return from Parisian disgrace. The story also focuses on David and Eve who are being forced to give up a paper making invention. Lucien tries to help with a riverbank meeting the villain Vautrin who persuades him to go to Paris.
Balzac obviously hated journalism and duplicity which are key themes in the novel. The difference between the province’s and Paris are also highlighted in terms of clothes, culture and the law. Balzac also is realistic with what happens with the crooks and villains which is refreshing. Well worth a read to see France between 1837-1843....more
A poor young writer, Raphael de Valentin is at the end of his tether. He has lost his estates, been rAn excellent novel given it was Balzac’s second.
A poor young writer, Raphael de Valentin is at the end of his tether. He has lost his estates, been ridiculed by the woman he loves and loses his last gold piece gambling. He decided to kill himself at nightfall and in the interim wanders into an antique shop to distract his morbid thoughts.
The centurion owner of the shop gives him a magical ass’s skin that will grant his wishes—for a price. After each wish granted, the skin slowly shrinks and the owner’s life is shortened. Disbelieving the shop owner he suddenly finds himself wealthy from an unexpected inheritance and finds love with Pauline the daughter of the hotel he was staying in his poverty straitened circumstances.
He then is forced to choose between self-sacrifice and self-gratification, Valentin decides on worldly pleasures. Ironically, he had previously been writing a book about the powers of the human will, Valentin soon loses all control over his own life and slips into debauchery. He tries to use science then medicine to avoid the curse. However, he eventually uses up the skin, bringing on his own death.
The morale is perhaps be careful what you wish for and beware of greed and the power of wealth. This philosophical tale explores the choice between ruthless self-gratification and asceticism, between vice and virtue, between dissipation and restraint. He does this through descriptive passages about a gambling den, old antique curiosity shop, an orgy, duel and the use of science and medicine....more
Not my favorite Balzac novel. A ten day passionate love affair set in revolutionary France around 1799. The story was a bit to black and white. Marie Not my favorite Balzac novel. A ten day passionate love affair set in revolutionary France around 1799. The story was a bit to black and white. Marie meets the Gars or Maquis and instead of betraying him she falls head over heels. Then it’s basically all about them and sod the civil war. Marie does have an interesting backstory who basically is an expensive courtesan with a conscience.
What I did like about it were the Sir Walter Scott adventure aspects and the rough and ready Chouans. The town is also very atmospheric with the cliff like ramparts, foggy weather and also the intrigue and double crossing. The sub plots with the miser, the double dealer and everyone falling in love with Marie were entertaining....more
The friendship of Pons and Schmucke is a moving one and raises questions of loyalty, faithfulness and tolerance. Two aged musicians live together in PThe friendship of Pons and Schmucke is a moving one and raises questions of loyalty, faithfulness and tolerance. Two aged musicians live together in Paris under Madame Cibot the concierge of their apartment building. Pons is a collector of art and as amassed a valuable collection. He is also a bit of a miser and glutton who has been eating dinner with his wealthy relatives for years. They have a falling out and blacken his name wrongly after his attempt of being matchmaker for his cousins ugly daughter fails. He then goes into decline with only his friend Schmucke a simple minded German with the devotion of a faithful dog.
People become aware of his wealth and the vultures begin to circle. Other collectors, his relatives, a lawyer and his concierge all vying for a share of the spoils. This tragic comedy is true to life with the baddies being rewarded and the good not so much. The last part of the novel is brilliant with Pons trying to outdo the greedy corrupt lawyer Frazier. A great story with hidden depths of the greed and corruption of people. I did laugh out loud finding out the fate of Rémonencq....more
Not the best Balzac novel. Lots of secrets. Hidden places in the forest. The story is not a strong one although in parts it was exciting with intrigueNot the best Balzac novel. Lots of secrets. Hidden places in the forest. The story is not a strong one although in parts it was exciting with intrigue, violent confrontations and injustice. The story is set around a conspiracy to depose Napoleón. Quite atmospheric in places with the forest scenes and a secret cellar.
Set when Napoleon took control of France in the early 1800s. It is about an aristocratic family who oppose Napoleon and how they are trapped into a crime they did not commit.
Lawrence the female countess tries to free her twin cousins with Michu her servant. Intrigue where powerful politicians decide to play both sides of the fence. They then have to create a distraction to cover their tracks and Lawrence’s family are the patsy’s....more
Greed, greed and more greed and a miser with the Midas touch. Grandet rules his family and faithful servant Nanon in a regimen of rations and lies. HeGreed, greed and more greed and a miser with the Midas touch. Grandet rules his family and faithful servant Nanon in a regimen of rations and lies. He has no ethics and becomes completely obsessed with making money. Grandet makes Scrooge look benevolent. Then his nephew arrives whose father has gone bankrupt and blown his brains out.
Eugenie his daughter falls madly in love with Charles the nephew and he promises her his heart as he departs to the Indies to make his fortune. Of course the true path of love is never easy and Charles is a weak character.
What follows is estrangement of father and daughter and then a sort of reconciliation. The whole of their lives revolves around money, greed and materialism of theirs and of course all their friends and acquaintances.
Years later Grandet’s wife is a martyr and two families vie for Eugenie’s hand in marriage. Without spoiling the ending Charles returns but ultimately as another reviewer eloquently put money cannot buy happiness....more
This book is made up of five short stories. The Atheist’s Mass, Honorine, Colonel Chabert, The Commission in Lunacy and Pierre Grassou. My favorite waThis book is made up of five short stories. The Atheist’s Mass, Honorine, Colonel Chabert, The Commission in Lunacy and Pierre Grassou. My favorite was The Commission in Lunacy where a judge has to decide if a estranged wife declaration that her husband is a madman. The reality is different and the wife heavily in debt, vain, greedy and mean comes across as just that with her husband as a honorable man.
Honorine is about the obsession of a husband who even though his wife leaves him for another man. Still loves and supports her unbeknownst to her. The story revolves around his secretary and the machinations for her to return to her husband.
The Atheist’s Mass is the mystery of why an atheist holds a mass regularly. Colonel Chabert is a great story about a Colonel who survives a battle but is declared dead. A lawyer takes up his case but his wife has remarried and let’s just say is not happy about a reconciliation. Again a story around honor and sacrifice. The last story is about a second rate artist who succeeds but does he.
At the moment Balzac is my favorite French author and these short stories were enjoyable to read.
**spoiler alert** Another excellent Balzac novel. A battle between virtue and vice set in 1840s Paris. Bette or Lisbeth is bent on revenge against her**spoiler alert** Another excellent Balzac novel. A battle between virtue and vice set in 1840s Paris. Bette or Lisbeth is bent on revenge against her cousin Baroness Hulot. That revenge is based on her being jealous of her. Her husband the Baron Hulot is a profligate without conscience. He is fooled by his mistresses especially Madame Marneffe who has four lovers all thinking they are the one. To cover expenses he goes to great lengths even fraud resulting in the death of his virtuous brother.
Balzac draws you into the Paris of the wealthy and the poverty stricken. The descriptions of the houses, furnishings and the characters is sublime. The rich idiot Creval, the brooding Brazilian and Wenceslas the gifted but lazy artist. All of them are easily led down the proverbial garden path by Madame Marneffe and taken to the cleaners. Her partnership with Bette is one built on fleecing men without morals or ethics.
The ending proves there is no fool like an old fool!...more
**spoiler alert** Finally finished this novel about the Parisian underworld and police in 1830s Paris. The character Vautrin who has many aliases, Jac**spoiler alert** Finally finished this novel about the Parisian underworld and police in 1830s Paris. The character Vautrin who has many aliases, Jacques Collins, the priest Carlos Herrera or Dodgedeath. Vautrin is perhaps the greatest villains of French literature. In short, when people say crime does not pay should read this novel. The ending was completely unexpected.
The novel follows the life of Lucien Chardon/de Rubempré who is about to kill himself but instead is saved by Carlos Herrera and becomes his protege. He lives a life of luxury and falls in love with the harlot, Esther known as the Torpedo. She also loves him and will do anything for him.
This novel shows the deception, corruption, and chicanery, at every level of society. Herrera is the consummate puppet master where he plays everyone at every level of society.
Herrera needs money for him to make Lucien a Marquis and to marry into high society. He uses Esther as a cash cow when the elderly, German banker billionaire Nucingen falls head over heels in love with her. This is amusing and boy do they fleece him. It is also funny how Balzac captures Nucingen’ a crazy French accent. For example,
"Ha'f a million, and not yet efen gaught zight of her legs. It is too zilly
However, the house of cards built by Vautrin threatens to collapse with the suicide of Esther and arrest of Lucien. Lucien foolishly confessed and then kills himself when he would have been freed. Vautrin is also arrested and this is where Balzac is at his best in what happens to this artful villain.
Not Balzac’s best novel but up there with the best. The story explores what motivates people to fall into sin, despair, depravity and also how they aim to improve their lives. Of course, the key driver is the role of wealth and money....more
Another great Balzac novel. Social climbing, spoilt daughters, greed, poverty and a father whose kindness and generosity ultimately causes misery. BalAnother great Balzac novel. Social climbing, spoilt daughters, greed, poverty and a father whose kindness and generosity ultimately causes misery. Balzac creation of a host of characters from Old Goiret, Eugene Rastignac and Vautrin are wonderful to read about. The juxtaposition between the luxurious saloons of Paris to the boarding house hovel all add to the spectacle. Greedy people abound and Rastignac struggles to keep his moral compass.
The death scene of Goiret is painful to read and poignant. The failure of his daughters and also his failure in not preparing them for life but instead giving into their every whim echos to society today. ...more
An enjoyable book to read. The story of a family with one side reduced to poverty In Paris. The story revolves around two brothers. Phillipe a soldierAn enjoyable book to read. The story of a family with one side reduced to poverty In Paris. The story revolves around two brothers. Phillipe a soldier and black sheep of the family and Joseph the other brother an artist. There mother Agathe who is not the sharpest card in the deck with misplaced loyalties.
The stories plot is around getting an inheritance from Agathe's brother and preventing another black sheep also a soldier called Max getting it. He is the lover of her brothers housekeeper who is trying to steal the inheritance. The chapters are easy to read with the humorous exploits of both black sheep and also the duel of wits between the two villains.
**spoiler alert** This is my first Balzac novel. I enjoyed it. This Romeo and Juliet set in Paris around Napoleons time is well written. The Corsican **spoiler alert** This is my first Balzac novel. I enjoyed it. This Romeo and Juliet set in Paris around Napoleons time is well written. The Corsican family arriving after a revenge killing in Paris with the scene set well. Then how the daughter falls in and love with a man who is a sworn enemy of her father. She chooses her man over her family and then the remainder of the novella tracks there descent from happiness to poverty and ultimately death....more
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