Lost Illusions


Book Description

Lost Illusions (1837-1843) is a novel by French author Honoré de Balzac. Written as part of his La Comédie humaine sequence, Lost Illusions looks at scenes of Parisian and provincial life involving friendship, desire, and literary ambition. Inspired by his own experiences as a journalist and publisher, Balzac sought to tell a story adjacent to his own, a story concerning a young man for whom talent is abundant but recognition is woefully scarce. The novel’s protagonist, Lucien Chardon, features in Balzac’s work A Harlot High and Low, as does the villain Vautrin, who appears toward the end of Lost Illusions and throughout Father Goriot, one of author’s most popular and enduring works. The son of a middle-class father and aristocratic mother, Lucien Chardon is a promising young poet. He lives in Angoulême with his now-impoverished mother—who is also a widow—and his sister Ève. In the province, he spends his days with his loyal friend David Séchard, who encourages his literary lifestyle while studying to be a scientist. David’s eventual marriage to Ève only brings the two friends closer together, but when Lucien meets the wealthy and influential Mme. de Bargeton, with whom he flees to Paris, their friendship is lost to Lucien’s unstoppable ambition. In the city, abandoned by Mme. de Bargeton and living under his mother’s maiden name, Lucien de Rubempré sacrifices morality, friendship, and family at the altar of poetry, slowly becoming another person altogether. Lost Illusions is one of Balzac’s most sustained character studies, a novel which critiques humanity and high society as much as it does his own commercial interests as a professional writer. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Honoré de Balzac’s Lost Illusions is a classic of French literature reimagined for modern readers.




A Distinguished Provincial at Paris


Book Description

The comedie humaine.. Scenes from provincial life. Distinguished Provincial at Paris is part two of the trilogy Lost illusions .




Two Poets


Book Description

The novel Two Poets is part of the Lost Illusions trilogy, which is in turn part of the Scenes From Provincial Life section of Honore de Balzac's massive masterpiece The Human Comedy. Critics have singled out this tale of social climbing, greed, lust, and good intentions gone awry as one of the best parts of Balzac's story cycle.










Eve and David. Lost Illusions


Book Description

The comedie humaine.. Scenes from provincial life.







BALZAC - Ultimate Collection


Book Description

This carefully crafted ebook collection is formatted for your eReader with a functional and detailed table of contents: The Human Comedy: Scenes From Private Life: At the Sign of the Cat and Racket The Ball at Sceaux The Purse Vendetta Madame Firmiani A Second Home Domestic Peace Paz Study of a Woman Another Study of Woman The Grand Breteche Albert Savarus Letters of Two Brides A Daughter of Eve A Woman of Thirty The Deserted Woman La Grenadiere The Message Gobseck The Marriage Contract A Start in Life Modeste Mignon Beatrix Honorine Colonel Chabert The Atheist's Mass The Commission in Lunacy Pierre Grassou Scenes From Provincial Life Ursule Mirouet Eugenie Grandet Pierrette The Vicar of Tours The Two Brothers The Illustrious Gaudissart The Muse of the Department Eve and David Scenes From Parisian Life Scenes from a Courtesan's Life A Prince of Bohemia A Man of Business Gaudissart II Unconscious Comedians Ferragus The Duchesse de Langeais The Girl with the Golden Eyes Father Goriot Rise and Fall of Cesar Birotteau The Firm of Nucingen Secrets of the Princesse de Cadignan Bureaucracy Sarrasine Facino Cane Cousin Betty Cousin Pons The Lesser Bourgeoisie Scenes From Political Life An Historical Mystery An Episode Under the Terror The Brotherhood of Consolation Z. Marcas The Deputy of Arcis Scenes From Military Life The Chouans A Passion in the Desert Scenes From Country Life The Country Doctor Juana Farewell The Recruit El Verdugo A Drama on the Seashore The Red Inn The Elixir of Life Maitre Cornelius Catherine de' Medici Louis Lambert The Exiles Seraphita Short Stories The Napoleon of the People Droll Stories Plays Vautrin The Resources of Quinola Paméla Giraud The Stepmother Mercadet Analytical Studies The Physiology of Marriage Petty Troubles of Married Life Letters to Madame Hanska The Complete Repertory Of The Comedie Humaine ...