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Part of La Comédie Humaine, this novel delves into the complexities of Parisian society through the lives of courtesans, criminals, and aristocrats. It focuses on the character of Esther, a courtesan who becomes the object of desire for several men, and the manipulative Vautrin, a former convict seeking power. Balzac masterfully explores themes of love, ambition, and the corrupting influence of wealth, offering a sharp critique of social structures in 19th-century France.
About the author
French dramatist and writer Honore de Balzac (1799-1850) was well-known for his important contributions to 19th-century literature. Frenchman Balzac was born in Tours. His literary career started with some small achievements, but he gained global recognition with his ambitious undertaking, "La Comedie Humaine." Beginning in the 1830s, this vast anthology of books and stories sought to present a thorough and accurate picture of French society. Thorough observation, intricate characterizations, and a dedication to capturing the complexity of human nature define Balzac's writing style. His paintings frequently portrayed a diverse cast of persons from different socioeconomic backgrounds and examined the effects of social and economic factors on individuals. Balzac was taken to a wet nurse as a child; the following year, he was joined by his sister Laure, and they lived away from home for four years. (Although Genevan philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau's popular book Emile persuaded many mothers at the time to breastfeed their own children, sending babies to wet nurses remained common among the middle and upper classes.) When the Balzac children returned home, they were kept at a remove from their parents, which had a tremendous impact on the future novelist. His 1835 novel Le Lys dans la vallee portrays a nasty governess named Miss Caroline, who is based on his own caregiver.
