Balzac
Honoré de Balzac was a prolific French novelist and playwright born on May 20, 1799, in Tours, France. He is best known for his ambitious series of novels and stories collectively titled "La Comédie Humaine," which paints a vivid portrait of French society in the early 19th century. Balzac's works delve into the complexities of human behavior and the social conditions of his time, showcasing a remarkable ability to create memorable characters and intricate plots. His keen observations and detailed descriptions provide a fascinating window into the lives of the people in his world, making his narratives both engaging and thought-provoking.
Throughout his life, Balzac faced numerous challenges, including financial difficulties and a relentless work ethic that often left him exhausted. Despite these obstacles, he managed to produce over ninety individual works, leaving a lasting legacy that influenced countless writers, including Marcel Proust and Charles Dickens. If you’re curious about the intricacies of human nature and the societal issues of the past, exploring Balzac's literature can be a rewarding experience. Dive into his world and discover the rich tapestry of characters and stories that continue to resonate today.
Sarrasine (de)
Read by Hokuspokus
Honoré de Balzac
Auf den Festen der märchenhaften reichen Familie Lauty taucht immer wieder ein rätselhafter uralter Mann auf, bei dessen Anblick e…
La Comédie Humaine: 05 - Scènes de la vie de province tome 1 (15-4-43)
Read by Bernard
Honoré de Balzac
Ce n'était pas une petite tâche que de peindre les deux ou trois mille figures saillantes d'une époque, car telle est, e…
La Comédie Humaine: La Femme de trente ans
Read by Ezwa
Honoré de Balzac
Malgré l'avis de son père, Juliette épouse l'homme dont elle est follement amoureuse, un colonel de Napoléon &ag…
La Comédie Humaine: Le Père Goriot
Read by Bernard
Honoré de Balzac
Le Père Goriot est un roman d’Honoré de Balzac, écrit en 1834, dont la publication débute dans la Revue de Paris…
Cousin Betty
Read by Bruce Pirie
Honoré de Balzac
Cousin Betty (La Cousine Bette), published in serial format in 1846, was one of the last and greatest of Balzac's works. It was part of his …
Traité de la vie élégante suivi de la Théorie de la démarche
Read by Christiane Jehanne
Honoré de Balzac
L’homme intérieur, principe du pouvoir et de la longévité, et l’homme extérieur arpentant, avec la même &e…
Eugénie Grandet
Read by Bruce Pirie
Honoré de Balzac
Eugénie Grandet, first published in 1833, is one of Honoré de Balzac's finest novels, and one of the first works in what would…
La Comédie Humaine: 01 - Scènes de la vie privée tome 1 (25-6-42)
Read by Bernard
Honoré de Balzac
Ce n'était pas une petite tâche que de peindre les deux ou trois mille figures saillantes d'une époque, car telle est, e…
Farewell
Read by Martin Geeson
Honoré de Balzac
In his startling and tragic novella Farewell (‘Adieu’), Balzac adds to the 19th century’s literature of the hysterical woman: sequestered, c…
Father Goriot
Read by James E. Carson
Honoré de Balzac
One of Balzac's most popular works, set around 1815 during the re-ascendancy of the Bourbon kings following the defeat of Napoleon. Said to …
The Girl with the Golden Eyes
Read by Martin Geeson
Honoré de Balzac
Listeners who like to plunge straight into a story would do well to skip the lengthy preamble. Here, Balzac the virtuoso satirist depicts th…
La fille aux yeux d'or
Read by LibriVox Volunteers
Honoré de Balzac
Au cours d’une promenade, le comte Henri de Marsay, un dandy féroce investi d’un pouvoir qui lui permet de plier toute personne &agra…
La Comédie Humaine: 06 - Scènes de la vie de province tome 2 (25-6-42)
Read by Bernard
Honoré de Balzac
Ce n'était pas une petite tâche que de peindre les deux ou trois mille figures saillantes d'une époque, car telle est, e…
Father Goriot (version 2)
Read by Bruce Pirie
Honoré de Balzac
Father Goriot (Le Père Goriot), published in 1835, is widely considered to be Balzac's finest and most popular novel. It is set in Pa…
La posada roja
Read by Epachuko
Honoré de Balzac
Novela breve de intriga escrita por Balzac en sus años de juventud. En una remota posada francesa, una noche, dos cirujanos militares…
Letters of Two Brides
Read by LibriVox Volunteers
Honoré de Balzac
Letters of Two Brides is an epistolary novel. The two brides are Louise de Chaulieu (Madame Gaston) and Renée de Maucombe (Madame l'E…
Lost Illusions: A Distinguished Provincial at Paris
Read by Bruce Pirie
Honoré de Balzac
A Distinguished Provincial at Paris (Un grand homme de province à Paris, 1839) is the second book in Balzac’s Lost Illusions trilogy,…
Lost Illusions: Two Poets
Read by Bruce Pirie
Honoré de Balzac
Two Poets (1837) is the first book in Balzac’s Lost Illusions trilogy, which is part of his sweeping set of novels collectively titled La Co…
Papá Goriot
Read by krahs
Honoré de Balzac
La historia narra el sufrimiento de papá Goriot, un hombre que dio todo por sus hijas y que al final estas le correspondieron mal, de…
Sarrasine
Read by Chip
Honoré de Balzac
Published by Honoré de Balzac in the tempestuous year of 1830, the tale follows the undulating pathways of Sarrasine the sculptor’s s…