La Cousine Bette (French Edition) [Mass Market Paperback]

Honoré de Balzac (Author), André Lorant (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 29, 1998

Vers le milieu du mois de juillet de l'année 1838, une de ces voitures nouvellement mises en circulation sur les places de Paris et nommées des milords cheminait, rue de l'Université, portant un gros homme de taille moyenne, en uniforme de capitaine de la garde nationale.

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 506 pages
• Publisher: Flammarion (December 29, 1998)
• Language: French
• ISBN-10: 2080702874
• ISBN-13: 978-2080702876
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,183,700 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars one of his best, both in theme and writing, November 14, 2010

By 

Robert J. Crawford (Balmette Talloires, France) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: La Cousine Bette (French Edition) (Mass Market Paperback)

Many of Balzac's novels read as if they were written too quickly and are full of holes in terms of plot and theme. This one is far better written and tightly plotted. It is, I think, an ideal introduction to this great writer. If you read French, I would recommend this edition in particular.

This novels has clearly drawn characters with grim lives in an inexorable descent to self-destruction, which are the classic Balzac themes. It explores the life of a libertine as he ruins himself and his family for the sake of pursuing pretty girls. Unbeknownst to him, he gets help from Bette, a cousin full of secret hatreds and bent on vengence. It is very sad to read. One minor character even commits suicide by repeatedly smashing his head into a nail, his only means to finish himself off he could find in his jail cell.

So why read it? When I described my fascination with Balzac to a pal of mine, I said, "yeah, it is all about disillusioned and cynical people" and he replied: "I am already disillusioned and cynical, so why should I read it?" Well, it is best for the wider social portraits that you can find, which are offered almost as an aside. Balzac in one section explains the politics behind the statues you see all over Paris, which is fascinating. You also learn of the career of courtisans, as they use their sex to advance themselves. The book is simply full of these thngs, in addition to the psychology of the many interesting main characters.

Also unusual for Balzac is the coherency of the story, which does not degenerate into ramblings like many of his other novels as they weave the tapestry of his Comedie Humaine like so many threads, that is, as vehicles in his vast project to fully portray an entire society with characters re-appearing in different situations and venues throughout his interrelated novels. The characters stand on their own here and are more clearly drawn. Hence, it is a great intro to Balzac and may get you hooked for more, that is, if you are masochistic enough to subject yourself to it!

Warmly recommended.