The Bureaucrats
The Bureaucrats

Author: Honore De Balzac

Publisher: Northwestern University Press

Published: 1993-12-14

Total Pages: 278

ISBN-13: 0810109875

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The Bureaucrats (Les Employes) stands out in Balzac's immense Human Comedy by concentrating precisely and penetratingly on a distinctive "modern" institution: France's state bureaucracy. Rabourdin, aided by his unscrupulous wife, attempts to reorganize and streamline the entire system. Rabourdin's plan will halve the government's size while doubling its revenue. When the plan is leaked, Rabourdin's rival—an utter incompetent—gains the overwhelming support of the frightened and desperate body of low-ranking functionaries. The novel contains the recognizable themes of Balzac's work: obsessive ambition, conspiracy and human pettiness, and a melodramatic struggle between the social good and the evils of folly and stupidity. It is also an unusual, dramatized analysis of a developing political institution and its role in shaping social class and mentality.

The Human Comedy - La Comédie humaine (Complete Edition)
The Human Comedy - La Comédie humaine (Complete Edition)

Author: Honoré de Balzac

Publisher: Good Press

Published: 2023-12-11

Total Pages: 10877

ISBN-13:

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Honoré de Balzac's 'The Human Comedy - La Comédie humaine (Complete Edition)' is a monumental work of literature that consists of a vast collection of interconnected novels and stories portraying French society in the early 19th century. Balzac's literary style is characterized by his realistic portrayal of human nature, intricate character development, and keen observations of social dynamics. The Human Comedy delves into various aspects of society including politics, love, money, and ambition, providing a comprehensive and detailed exploration of the human experience. Balzac's storytelling is rich in detail and his characters are complex and deeply nuanced, making the reader feel fully immersed in the world he has created. Honoré de Balzac, a prominent French novelist and playwright, drew inspiration for The Human Comedy from his own life experiences and observations of society. His unparalleled dedication to depicting the complexities of human behavior and social structures sets him apart as a master of realist fiction. Balzac's meticulous attention to detail and his ability to create vivid and lifelike characters make his work both engaging and thought-provoking. I highly recommend 'The Human Comedy - La Comédie humaine (Complete Edition)' to readers who are interested in exploring the intricacies of human nature and society through the lens of a masterful storyteller. Balzac's magnum opus offers a profound and enlightening reading experience that will leave a lasting impact on anyone who delves into its pages.

A Daughter of Eve
A Daughter of Eve

Author: Honoré de Balzac

Publisher: Standard Ebooks

Published: 2024-08-21T16:59:54Z

Total Pages: 155

ISBN-13:

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Marie-Angélique and Marie-Eugénie are two sisters raised in a very strict household, who marry very different men: the former a cutthroat banker, the latter a man who has given his wife everything she needs save money, but who lacks any adventure in his spirit. In short, he’s boring. This leads Marie-Eugénie to make some bad decisions, and it will take quick thinking and bold action if she is to be saved from certain disaster. Although one of Balzac’s shorter novels, A Daughter of Eve is full of the richly-drawn characters that are his hallmark, and demonstrates less of the cynicism that is common in his Human Comedy. This book is part of the Standard Ebooks project, which produces free public domain ebooks.

A Start in Life
A Start in Life

Author: Honore de Balzac

Publisher: BoD – Books on Demand

Published: 2019-09-25

Total Pages: 154

ISBN-13: 3734083397

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Reproduction of the original: A Start in Life by Honore de Balzac

Eugénie Grandet
Eugénie Grandet

Author: Honoré de Balzac

Publisher: Dutton Books

Published: 1973

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9780460001694

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Saumur, the setting for Eugenie Grandet (1833), one of the earliest and most famous novels in Balzac's great Comedie humaine. The Grandet household, oppressed by the exacting miserliness of Grandet himself, is jerked violently out of routine by the sudden arrival of Eugenie's cousin Charles, recently orphaned and penniless. Eugenie's emotional awakening, stimulated by her love for her cousin, brings her into direct conflict with her father, whose cunning and financial success are matched against her determination to rebel. Eugenie's moving story is set against the backdrop of provincial oppression, the vicissitudes of the wine trade, and the workings of the financial system in the aftermath of the French Revolution. It is both a poignant portrayal of private life and a vigorous fictional document of its age. Book jacket.