The Best Works of Balzac
Enriched edition. Father Goriot, Pierre Grassou, Cousin Pons, Cousin Betty, Colonel Chabert, Catherine de Medici…By Honoré de Balzac
Length451h 39m
About this audiobook
In "The Best Works of Balzac," the esteemed French novelist Honoré de Balzac presents a masterful collection that encapsulates the essence of his sweeping narrative style and profound social commentary. Spanning an array of themes from ambition and class struggle to the intricacies of human relationships, this anthology reflects Balzac's keen observations of 19th-century French society. Rich in character development and interwoven plotlines, it serves as a foundational text in the realism movement, offering readers an unflinching glimpse into the lives of its characters, who are often driven by desires that echo throughout the human experience. Honoré de Balzac (1799-1850) emerged from the tumultuous backdrop of post-revolutionary France, a period that deeply influenced his literary ambitions. With a background in law and experience in various professions, Balzac became acutely aware of the societal shifts and individual struggles that characterized his time. His dedication to documenting the complexities of human nature culminated in his monumental series "La Comédie Humaine," of which this collection is a reflection, showcasing his literary genius and ability to intertwine fiction with sociological critique. This anthology is highly recommended for readers eager to explore the depths of human emotion and societal critique through the lens of one of literature's greatest pioneers. "The Best Works of Balzac" provides a compelling entry point for both seasoned readers and new enthusiasts of classic literature, inviting them to experience the rich tapestry of life in 19th-century France.
In this enriched edition, we have carefully created added value for your reading experience:
- A succinct Introduction situates the work's timeless appeal and themes.
- The Synopsis outlines the central plot, highlighting key developments without spoiling critical twists.
- A detailed Historical Context immerses you in the era's events and influences that shaped the writing.
- An Author Biography reveals milestones in the author's life, illuminating the personal insights behind the text.
- A thorough Analysis dissects symbols, motifs, and character arcs to unearth underlying meanings.
- Reflection questions prompt you to engage personally with the work's messages, connecting them to modern life.
- Hand‐picked Memorable Quotes shine a spotlight on moments of literary brilliance.
- Interactive footnotes clarify unusual references, historical allusions, and archaic phrases for an effortless, more informed read.
Audiobook details
GenreLiterary Classics, General Fiction
Length451 hrs 39 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateDec 11, 2023
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1Introduction
204Chapter XXVII. A Girl’s Revenge
2Introduction
205Cousin Betty (pt. 1)
3Synopsis (Selection)
206Cousin Betty (pt. 2)
4Historical Context
207Cousin Betty (pt. 3)
5Author Biography
208Cousin Betty (pt. 4)
Show all chaptersShow less
6Novels
209Cousin Betty (pt. 5)
7The Chouans
210Cousin Betty (pt. 6)
8I. An Ambuscade
211Cousin Betty (pt. 7)
9II. One of Fouche’s Ideas (pt. 1)
212Scenes From a Courtesan's Life (pt. 1)
10II. One of Fouche’s Ideas (pt. 2)
213Scenes From a Courtesan's Life (pt. 2)
11III. A Day Without a Morrow (pt. 1)
214Scenes From a Courtesan's Life (pt. 3)
12III. A Day Without a Morrow (pt. 2)
215Scenes From a Courtesan's Life (pt. 4)
13III. A Day Without a Morrow (pt. 3)
216Scenes From a Courtesan's Life (pt. 5)
14At the Sign of the Cat and Racket
217Scenes From a Courtesan's Life (pt. 6)
15Vendetta
218Scenes From a Courtesan's Life (pt. 7)
16Chapter I. Prologue
219Scenes From a Courtesan's Life (pt. 8)
17Chapter III. Labedoyere’s Friend
220Scenes From a Courtesan's Life (pt. 9)
18Chapter V. Marriage
221I (pt. 1)
19The Magic Skin
222I (pt. 2)
20I. The Talisman (pt. 1)
223I (pt. 3)
21I. The Talisman (pt. 2)
224XVII
22II. A Woman Without a Heart (pt. 1)
225XIX
23II. A Woman Without a Heart (pt. 2)
226XXII
24III. The Agony (pt. 1)
227XXV
25III. The Agony (pt. 2)
228XXVIII
26Epilogue
229XXXI
27The Exiles
230First Episode. Madame De La Chanterie
28Louis Lambert (pt. 1)
231I. The Malady of the Age
29Louis Lambert (pt. 2)
232IV. Farewell to the Life of the World
30I
233VII. Monsieur Alain Tells His Secrets
31III
234VIII. Who She Was—Wife and Mother
32V
235X. Pray for Those Who Despitefully Use You and Persecute You
33VII
236Second Episode. The Initiate
34IX
237XI. The Police of the Good God
35XI
238XII. A Case to Investigate
36XIII
239XIV. How the Poor and Helpless Are Preyed Upon
37The Country Doctor
240XVI. A Lesson in Charity
38Chapter I. The Countryside and the Man (pt. 1)
241XIX. Vengeance
39Chapter I. The Countryside and the Man (pt. 2)
242Sons of the Soil
40Chapter II. A Doctor’s Round (pt. 1)
243Part I
41Chapter II. A Doctor’s Round (pt. 2)
244Chapter I. The Chateau
42Chapter III. The Napoleon of the People
245Chapter II. A Bucolic Overlooked by Virgil
43Chapter IV. The Country Doctor’s Confession
246Chapter IV. Another Idyll
44Chapter V. Elegies
247Chapter VI. A Tale of Thieves
45Ferragus
248Chapter VIII. The Great Revolutions of a Little Valley
46Preface
249Chapter IX. Concerning the Mediocracy
47Chapter II. Ferragus
250Chapter XI. The Oaristys, Eighteenth Eclogue of Theocritus Little Admired on the Police Calendar
48Chapter IV. Where Go to Die?
251Chapter XIII. A Type of the Country Usurer
49Chapter V. Conclusion
252Part II
50The Duchesse De Langeais (pt. 1)
253Chapter I. The Leading Society of Soulanges
51The Duchesse De Langeais (pt. 2)
254Chapter III. The Cafe De La Paix
52The Duchesse De Langeais (pt. 3)
255Chapter V. Victory Without a Fight
53The Alkahest
256Chapter VIII. Rural Virtue
54Chapter I
257Catherine De' Medici (pt. 1)
55Chapter III
258Catherine De' Medici (pt. 2)
56Chapter V
259Catherine De' Medici (pt. 3)
57Chapter VII
260Catherine De' Medici (pt. 4)
58Chapter IX
261Catherine De' Medici (pt. 5)
59Chapter XI
262Catherine De' Medici (pt. 6)
60Chapter XIII
263A Distinguished Provincial at Paris (pt. 1)
61Chapter XV
264A Distinguished Provincial at Paris (pt. 2)
62Seraphita
265A Distinguished Provincial at Paris (pt. 3)
63Chapter I. Seraphitus
266A Distinguished Provincial at Paris (pt. 4)
64Chapter II. Seraphita
267A Distinguished Provincial at Paris (pt. 5)
65Chapter IV. The Clouds of the Sanctuary
268A Distinguished Provincial at Paris (pt. 6)
66Chapter V. Farewell
269The Lesser Bourgeoisie
67Chapter VII. The Assumption
270Part I. The Lesser Bourgeois of Paris
68Father Goriot (pt. 1)
271Chapter I. Departing Paris
69Father Goriot (pt. 2)
272Chapter III. Colleville
70Father Goriot (pt. 3)
273Chapter V. A Principal Personage
71Father Goriot (pt. 4)
274Chapter VII. The Worthy Phellions
72Father Goriot (pt. 5)
275Chapter IX. The Banker of the Poor
73The Lily of the Valley
276Chapter XI. The Reign of Theodose
74Chapter I. Two Childhoods (pt. 1)
277Chapter XIII. The Perversity of Doves
75Chapter I. Two Childhoods (pt. 2)
278Chapter XVI. Du Portail
76Chapter II. First Love (pt. 1)
279Chapter XVIII. Set a Saint to Catch a Saint
77Chapter II. First Love (pt. 2)
280Part II. The Parvenus
78Chapter III. The Two Women (pt. 1)
281Chapter I. Phellion, Under a New Aspect
79Chapter III. The Two Women (pt. 2)
282Chapter III. Good Blood Cannot Lie
80The Marriage Contract
283Chapter V. Showing How Near the Tarpeian Rock Is to the Capitol
81Chapter I. Pro and Con
284Chapter VII. How to Shut the Door in People’s Faces
82Chapter III. The Marriage Contract—First Day
285Chapter IX. Give and Take
83Chapter IV. The Marriage Contract—Second Day
286Chapter XI. Explanations and What Came of Them
84Chapter V. The Marriage Contract—Third Day
287Chapter XII. A Star
85An Old Maid
288Chapter XIV. A Stormy Day
86Chapter I. One of Many Chevaliers De Valois
289Chapter XV. At Du Portail’s
87Chapter V. An Old Maid’s Household (pt. 1)
290Chapter XVI. Checkmate to Thuillier
88Chapter V. An Old Maid’s Household (pt. 2)
291Novellas
89Part I. Cesar at His Apogee
292The Ball at Sceaux
90I
293Sarrasine
91III
294A Second Home (pt. 1)
92IV
295A Second Home (pt. 2)
93V
296Domestic Peace
94VI
297Gobseck
95VII
298El Verdugo
96Part II. Cesar Grappling With Misfortune
299Colonel Chabert (pt. 1)
97I
300Colonel Chabert (pt. 2)
98III
301The Vicar of Tours
99IV
302I
100V
303II
101VI
304IV
102Addendum
305The Girl With the Golden Eyes (pt. 1)
103The Collection of Antiquities (pt. 1)
306The Girl With the Golden Eyes (pt. 2)
104The Collection of Antiquities (pt. 2)
307Secrets of the Princesse De Cadignan
105The Collection of Antiquities (pt. 3)
308Chapter I. The Last Word of Two Great Coquettes
106A Daughter of Eve
309Chapter III. The Princess Goes to Work
107Chapter I. The Two Maries
310Z. Marcas
108Chapter IV. A Celebrated Man
311Pierrette
109Chapter VI. Romantic Love
312I. The Lorrains
110Chapter VIII. A Lover Saved and Lost
313III. Pathology of Retired Mercers
111Beatrix
314IV. Pierrette
112I. A Breton Town and Mansion
315VI. An Old Maid’s Jealousy
113III. Three Breton Silhouettes
316VIII. The Loves of Jacques and Pierrette
114VI. Biography of Camille Maupin
317X. Verdicts—legal and Other
115VIII. La Marquise Beatrix
318The Muse of the Department (pt. 1)
116IX. A First Meeting
319The Muse of the Department (pt. 2)
117XI. Female Diplomacy
320The Muse of the Department (pt. 3)
118XIII. Duel Between Women
321I
119XV. Conti
322III
120XVIII. The End of a Honey-Moon
323IV
121XIX. The First Lie of a Pious Duchess
324VI
122XXII. The Normal History of an Upper-Class Grisette
325VIII
123XXV. A Prince of Bohemia
326IX
124The Village Rector
327XI
125I. The Sauviats
328XII
126III. Marriage
329I. The Rabourdin Household
127V. Tascheron
330II. Monsieur Des Lupeaulx
128VII. Montegnac
331IV. Three-Quarter Length Portraits of Certain Government Officials
129IX. Denise
332V. The Machine in Motion
130XI. The Rector at Work
333VI. The Worms at Work
131XIV. The Torrent of the Gabou
334VII. Scenes From Domestic Life
132XVII. The Revolution of July Judged at Montegnac
335VIII. Forward, Mollusks!
133XVIII. Catherine Curieux
336IX. The Resignation
134XX. The Last Struggle
337Short Stories
135Ursule Mirouet
338Study of a Woman
136Chapter I. The Frightened Heirs (pt. 1)
339Another Study of Woman
137Chapter I. The Frightened Heirs (pt. 2)
340The Grand Breteche
138Chapter X. The Family of Portenduere (pt. 1)
341Farewell
139Chapter X. The Family of Portenduere (pt. 2)
342The Unknown Masterpiece
140Chapter XVI. The Two Adversaries (pt. 1)
343The Recruit
141Chapter XVI. The Two Adversaries (pt. 2)
344The Red Inn
142Letters of Two Brides
345The Purse
143FIRST PART
346La Grenadiere
144I. Louise De Chaulieu to Renee De Maucombe. Paris, September
347The Message
145III. The Same to the Same December
348A Drama on the Seashore
146VIII. The Same to the Same January
349The Atheist's Mass
147XIV. The Duc De Soria to the Baron De Macumer Madrid
350Facino Cane
148XX. Renee De L'Estorade to Louise De Chaulieu May
351Gambara (pt. 1)
149XXVI. Louise De Macumer to Renee De L'Estorade March
352Gambara (pt. 2)
150XXXII. Mme. De Macumer to Mme. De L'Estorade March 1826
353Massimilla Doni (pt. 1)
151XLII. Renee to Louise
354Massimilla Doni (pt. 2)
152SECOND PART
355Pierre Grassou
153XLVIII. The Baronne De Macumer to the Comtesse De L'Estorade October 15, 1833
356An Episode Under the Terror
154XLIX. Marie Gaston to Daniel D'Arthez October 1833
357Madame Firmiani
155LV. The Comtesse De L'Estorade to Mme. Gaston July 16th
358The Deserted Woman
156Paz
359The Commission in Lunacy (pt. 1)
157I
360The Commission in Lunacy (pt. 2)
158III
361The Illustrious Gaudissart
159A Woman of Thirty
362Chapter I
160I. Early Mistakes (pt. 1)
363Chapter IV
161I. Early Mistakes (pt. 2)
364A Prince of Bohemia
162II. A Hidden Grief
365A Man of Business
163III. At Thirty Years
366Gaudissart Ii
164IV. The Finger of God (pt. 1)
367Unconscious Comedians
165IV. The Finger of God (pt. 2)
368The Firm of Nucingen (pt. 1)
166VI. The Old Age of a Guilty Mother
369The Firm of Nucingen (pt. 2)
167Albert Savarus (pt. 1)
370A Passion in the Desert
168Albert Savarus (pt. 2)
371Christ in Flanders
169The Two Brothers
372The Napoleon of the People
170Chapter I
373The Fair Imperia
171Chapter III
374The Venial Sin
172Chapter V
375The King’s Sweetheart
173Chapter VII
376The Devil’s Heir
174Chapter VIII
377The Merrie Jests of King Louis the Eleventh
175Chapter X
378The High Constable’s Wife
176Chapter XII
379The Maid of Thilouse
177Chapter XIII
380The Brothers-In-Arms
178Chapter XV
381The Vicar of Azay-Le-Rideau
179Chapter XVII
382The Reproach
180A Start in Life
383The Three Clerks of St. Nicholas
181Chapter I. That Which Was Lacking to Pierrotin’s Happiness
384The Continence of King Francis the First
182Chapter III. The Travellers
385The Merry Tattle of the Nuns of Poissy
183Chapter V. The Drama Begins
386How the Chateau D’azay Came to Be Built
184Chapter VI. The Moreau Interior
387The False Courtesan
185Chapter VII. A Mother’s Trials
388The Danger of Being Too Innocent
186Chapter IX. La Marquise De Las Florentinas Y Cabirolos
389The Dear Night of Love
187Chapter X. Another Catastrophe
390The Sermon of the Merry Vicar of Meudon
188Two Poets (pt. 1)
391The Succubus: Prologue
189Two Poets (pt. 2)
392Despair in Love
190Two Poets (pt. 3)
393Perseverance in Love
191Honorine (pt. 1)
394Concerning a Provost Who Did Not Recognise Things
192Honorine (pt. 2)
395About the Monk Amador, Who Was a Glorious Abbot of Turpenay
193Modeste Mignon
396Bertha the Penitent
194Chapter I. The Chalet
397How the Pretty Maid of Portillon Convinced Her Judge
195Chapter IV. A Simple Story
398In Which It Is Demonstrated That Fortune Is Always Feminine
196Chapter VII. A Poet of the Angelic School
399Concerning a Poor Man Who Was Called Le Vieux Par-Chemins
197Chapter IX. The Power of the Unseen
400Odd Sayings of Three Pilgrims
198Chapter XI. What Comes of Correspondence
401Innocence
199Chapter XIV. Matters Grown Complicated
402The Fair Imperia Married
200Chapter XVI. Disenchanted
403A Street Of Paris And Its Inhabitant: I. Physiognomy of the Street
201Chapter XIX. Of Which the Author Thinks a Good Deal
404Analysis
202Chapter XXI. Modeste Plays Her Part
405Reflection
203Chapter XXIV. The Poet Feels That He Is Loved Too Well
406Memorable Quotes
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