A Murky Business (Une Tenebreuse Affaire) (Paperback)

by Honore de Balzac (Author), Herbert J. Hunt (Introduction, Translator)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
This novel covers the years 1803-6, when Napoleon was making himself first consul and then emperor. It is also an early example of the detective story, in which the sinister, implacable police agent, Corentin, stalks his way towards vengeance on his aristocratic enemies. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Language Notes
Text: English, French (translation)

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Penguin Classics (September 28, 1978)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140442715
• ISBN-13: 978-0140442717
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,483,099 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Should be one of the most famous, January 31, 2001

By	Guillermo Maynez (Mexico, Distrito Federal Mexico) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

A Murky Business is wonderful. The acute eye and superb writing of Balzac are put in service of a political mystery novel. Napoleon is trying to conquer Europe, and Fouche, his police chief (a fascinating historical character) is covering his back, doing all the dirty work. For Napoleon has powerful enemies who are conspiring to depose him. Malin is one of the conspirators, a man who buys a big house called Gondreville, in rural Champagne. Michú, his servant, helps her beautiful and rich neighbor, Lorence de Cynq-Cygne (one of Balzac's strongest and smartest female characters) to get their cousins secretly into France. These guys, called Simeuse, are conspirators exiled by Napoleon. Fouche gets to know the Simeuses are back in France, and starts the search for them, kidnapping Malin. What follows I won't spoil, but it is a great novel with a very dark tone. There are spies, traitors, revenge and passion. I am amazed that this novel is not much more famous, since it is magnificent entertainment and excellent literature.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Worhty of the praise of Machiavelli himself., April 16, 1999

By	Glen Andrews ([e-mail]) (Philadelphia, PA) - See all my reviews

Conspiracy theorists rejoice. Balzac weaves such a complex web, that a highlighter should be sold with the book. As Napoleon decides the fate of Europe, others are secretely deciding the fate of France. From the streets of Paris, just beneath the Emperors nose, to the provincial farmers of Champaign; machinations with a flair not seen since the Borgias lead the reader along this rollercoaster.