The Duchesse of Langeais [Paperback]

Honore de Balzac (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 12, 2006

In a Spanish city on an island in the Mediterranean, there stands a convent of the Order of Barefoot Carmelites, where the rule instituted by St. Theresa is still preserved with all the first rigor of the reformation brought about by that illustrious woman...

Product Details

• Paperback: 146 pages
• Publisher: BiblioBazaar (July 12, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1426407602
• ISBN-13: 978-1426407604
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,014,792 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not the Best of Balzac, August 20, 2008

By 

Queen Margo "Buttercup" (Arlington) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Duchesse of Langeais (Paperback)

I was inspired to return to Balzac after seeing a recently made movie based on this book. The classical story structure is superb: the opening grabs you in more ways than one -- you feel like travelling to the Spanish island, you are drawn to the characters and to their history.

In the post-revolution Paris, a wealthy young duchess has a friendly, but detached relationship with her husband. She spends her time socializing and, perhaps, trying to leave her mark. When a famous war hero re-enters the society, he attracts attention, but it is the duchess who manages to brings him out of his solitary shell. He goes to places just to see her. She enjoys the role of a big seductress, but has no intention of engaging in an affair. As the general's friend explains to him - there is nothing in it for her, but much to lose (if the husband gets angry) and so there is no hope of her changing her mind. The general realizes he has been used and plans revenge......

As usual, Balzac is great at bringing to life historic Paris and is a wonderful story-teller. He is very intimate with the reader. But mid-way through, this story falters and gets repetitive. I found the duchess's long monotones, and the dialogues with her lover deadly dull. Maybe something was lost in translation.

The pace picks up again towards the end of the story. But the general's transformation from a devoted lover to a coldhearted man is not convincing. It happens too abruptly after one, or maybe two, warnings from a friend.

Furthermore, one never really feels any sypmpathy for these two star-crossed lovers. Despite their grand rhetoric, they lack passion and chemistry. In the end, one wonders if either of them ever truly loved, or even desired the other.