Balzac

Honoré de Balzac was a prolific French novelist and playwright born on May 20, 1799, in Tours, France. He is best known for his ambitious series of novels and stories collectively titled "La Comédie Humaine," which paints a vivid portrait of French society in the early 19th century. Balzac's works delve into the complexities of human behavior and the social conditions of his time, showcasing a remarkable ability to create memorable characters and intricate plots. His keen observations and detailed descriptions provide a fascinating window into the lives of the people in his world, making his narratives both engaging and thought-provoking.

Throughout his life, Balzac faced numerous challenges, including financial difficulties and a relentless work ethic that often left him exhausted. Despite these obstacles, he managed to produce over ninety individual works, leaving a lasting legacy that influenced countless writers, including Marcel Proust and Charles Dickens. If you’re curious about the intricacies of human nature and the societal issues of the past, exploring Balzac's literature can be a rewarding experience. Dive into his world and discover the rich tapestry of characters and stories that continue to resonate today.

The Ball at Sceaux

Read by Bruce Pirie 5
The novella “The Ball at Sceaux” is part of Balzac’s great life work — the expansive fiction series titled “The Human Comedy.” The central c…

La Grande Bretèche

Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019) 4.7
La Grande Bretèche is an addendum to Balzac's Another Study of Woman, and is the final of a set of stories told around a dinner table…

Love in a Mask, or Imprudence and Happiness

Read by Lee Smalley 4.4
Love in a Mask, or Imprudence and Happiness, is an entertaining short novel by Honoré de Balzac, unpublished in his lifetime. Beginni…

Letters of Two Brides

Read by LibriVox Volunteers 4.6
Letters of Two Brides is an epistolary novel. The two brides are Louise de Chaulieu (Madame Gaston) and Renée de Maucombe (Madame l'E…

The Duchess of Langeais

Read by Bruce Pirie 4.7
“The Duchess of Langeais” (1834) is part of Balzac’s great life’s work, the sprawling novel series called “The Human Comedy.” This novel is …

The Marriage Contract

Read by Bruce Pirie 4.8
Balzac’s novel “The Marriage Contract” (1835) is part of his “Scenes of Private Life,” which is one section of “The Human Comedy,” his great…

The Unknown Masterpiece

Read by Bruce Pirie 4.4
“The Unknown Masterpiece” (“Le Chef-d’œuvre inconnu”) is a novella by Honoré de Balzac, published with revisions in 1845, after earli…

César Birotteau

Read by Bruce Pirie 4.5
“Rise and Fall of César Birotteau” (1837) is part of Balzac’s great novel series titled “The Human Comedy.”The story is set in Paris,…

La Comédie Humaine: 01 - Scènes de la vie privée tome 1 (25-6-42)

Read by Bernard 4.6
Ce n'était pas une petite tâche que de peindre les deux ou trois mille figures saillantes d'une époque, car telle est, e…

The Chouans (version 2)

Read by Bruce Pirie 3.9
“The Chouans” (1829) was the first novel published under Balzac’s own name (rather than a pen-name). It became the first book in the great w…

Another Study of Woman

Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019) 4.4
A series of tales -- told by men, of course -- about women. Though the book first appeared in 1842, Balzac later added to it as an addenfum …

Father Goriot

Read by James E. Carson 4.2
One of Balzac's most popular works, set around 1815 during the re-ascendancy of the Bourbon kings following the defeat of Napoleon. Said to …

Louis Lambert

Read by Don W. Jenkins 3.9
Louis Lambert is an 1832 novel by French novelist and playwright Honoré de Balzac (1799–1850), included in the Études philosop…

La Comédie Humaine: La Femme de trente ans

Read by Ezwa 4.5
Malgré l'avis de son père, Juliette épouse l'homme dont elle est follement amoureuse, un colonel de Napoléon &ag…

The Red Inn

Read by pmstrahm 3.7
Staying at the red inn. Two army surgeons get caught up in a murder, intrigue and execution. - Summary by pmstrahm

Gobseck

Read by James E. Carson 4.6
Gobseck delves into the life of a shrewd and calculating pawnbroker, Jean-Esther Gobseck, whose financial dealings reveal the darker side of…

Ferragus, Chief of the Dévorants

Read by LibriVox Volunteers 5
Why would someone with an immaculate reputation enter a house known for vices? A young officer sets out to uncover the "secret" of…

At the Sign of the Cat and Racket

Read by Bruce Pirie 4.4
The short novel “At the Sign of the Cat and Racket” was one of Balzac’s earliest fictions, first published in 1830 and substantially revised…

Catherine De' Medici

Read by Edmund Bloxam 3
The Philosophical Studies from The Human Comedy (La Comedie Humaine) are a series of works that are intended as a reflection on history in p…

The Firm of Nucingen

Read by James E. Carson 3.6
Part of the Comedie Humane and a "supplementary" tale to go with Father Goriot and Gobseck. Nucingen is the married family name of…

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