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.

Love in a Mask, or Imprudence and Happiness

Read by Lee Smalley 4.4
Love in a Mask, or Imprudence and Happiness, is an entertaining short novel by Honoré de Balzac, unpublished in his lifetime. Beginni…

Splendeurs et misères des courtisanes

Read by Ariane 4
Si Les Illusions Perdues, notre première rencontre avec Lucien de Rubempré, était une scène provinciale de flirt…

Louis Lambert

Read by Don W. Jenkins 3.9
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) 4.6
Over twenty years before Anthony Trollope wrote The Warden, in which the gentle but unfortunate Rev. Septimus Harding becomes the prey of an…

La Comédie Humaine: Les Comédiens sans le savoir

Read by Bernard 4.4
Sylvestre Palafox-Castel-Gazonnal, dit Gazonnal, « monte » à Paris pour régler un procès qui l’oppose au pr…

La Comédie Humaine: 10 - Scènes de la vie parisienne tome 2 (29-9-44)

Read by Bernard 4.9
Ce n'était pas une petite tâche que de peindre les deux ou trois mille figures saillantes d'une époque, car telle est, e…

Modeste Mignon

Read by LibriVox Volunteers 2.6
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 4.8
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…

La Duchesse de Langeais

Read by Thomas de Châtillon 4.5
Véritable dialectique de l’amour et de la coquetterie, La Duchesse de Langeais est l’histoire d’une femme mondaine qui se propose de …

Gobseck

Read by James E. Carson 4.6
Gobseck delves into the life of a shrewd and calculating pawnbroker, Jean-Esther Gobseck, whose financial dealings reveal the darker side of…

Another Study of Woman

Read by Nicholas Clifford (1930-2019) 4.4
A series of tales -- told by men, of course -- about women. Though the book first appeared in 1842, Balzac later added to it as an addenfum …

Catherine De' Medici

Read by Edmund Bloxam 3.2
The Philosophical Studies from The Human Comedy (La Comedie Humaine) are a series of works that are intended as a reflection on history in p…

Les Chouans

Read by Corinne 4.4
« Dans les premiers jours de l’an VIII, au commencement de vendémiaire, ou, pour se conformer au calendrier actuel, vers la fin…

Colonel Chabert

Read by Nicole Lee 3.5
Colonel Chabert is a soldier, who goes missing during the Napoleonic wars, and then returns from the dead, most inconveniently for his wife,…

The Firm of Nucingen

Read by James E. Carson 3.6
Part of the Comedie Humane and a "supplementary" tale to go with Father Goriot and Gobseck. Nucingen is the married family name of…

Honorine

Read by Pomme 4.8
A Gênes, au cours d’une belle soirée, le Consul Général va raconter une histoire dans laquelle il joua un rô…

The Red Inn

Read by pmstrahm 3.7
Staying at the red inn. Two army surgeons get caught up in a murder, intrigue and execution. - Summary by pmstrahm

Mémoires de deux jeunes mariées

Read by Juliette 4.8
Avec la participation de Alexandre Khazal, Christophe Ménager, Milunisu et Vincent de l’Épine.Les « Deux Jeunes Mar…

Le Cousin Pons

Read by Pomme 4.7
Le cousin Pons, vieux célibataire, a trois passions : les bons dîners, sa collection d’œuvres d’art, et son ami, un musicien a…

Béatrix

Read by Pauline Pucciano 3.7
Le jeune Calyste du Guénic est adoré par toutes les femmes du roman, à commencer par sa pieuse mère qui l’a &eac…

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