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.
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 …
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
The Magic Skin
Read by James E. Carson
Honoré de Balzac
Something along the lines of Dorian Gray as part of the Comedies Humane Philosophique, this is Balzac's first successful novel. He even wrot…
Scenes from a Courtesan's Life
Read by Bruce Pirie
Honoré de Balzac
Scenes from a Courtesan's Life is one of the last great works completed by Balzac for his huge novel series entitled The Human Comedy. Sect…
Lost Illusions: Ève and David
Read by Bruce Pirie
Honoré de Balzac
Ève and David (1843) is the final book in Balzac’s Lost Illusions trilogy, which is part of his sweeping set of novels collectively t…
Cousin Pons
Read by Bruce Pirie
Honoré de Balzac
Cousin Pons is one of the final works in Balzac's long novel series titled The Human Comedy. It was published in 1847, along with Cousin Bet…
Love in a Mask, or Imprudence and Happiness
Read by Lee Smalley
Honoré de Balzac
Love in a Mask, or Imprudence and Happiness, is an entertaining short novel by Honoré de Balzac, unpublished in his lifetime. Beginni…
Louis Lambert
Read by Don W. Jenkins
Honoré de Balzac
Louis Lambert is an 1832 novel by French novelist and playwright Honoré de Balzac (1799–1850), included in the Études philosop…
The Vicar of Tours
Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019)
Honoré de Balzac
Over twenty years before Anthony Trollope wrote The Warden, in which the gentle but unfortunate Rev. Septimus Harding becomes the prey of an…
Modeste Mignon
Read by LibriVox Volunteers
Honoré de Balzac
Modeste Mignon, a young provincial woman of romantic temperament, imagines herself to be in love with the famous Parisian poet Melchior de C…
The Phoenix and the Carpet (version 3 Dramatic Reading)
Read by LibriVox Volunteers
E. Nesbit and Honoré de Balzac
Cyril, Robert, Anthea and Jane need a new carpet for the nursery, but it turns out to be a magic carpet containing a phoenix egg! They disco…
Gobseck
Read by James E. Carson
Honoré de Balzac
Part of the La Comedie Humane and something of a sequence to Balzac's Father Goriot, the short book's title is the name of the pawn broker/m…