The novel Eve and David is the third entry in Honore de Balzac's Lost Illusions trilogy, which in turn is part of his larger novel cycle, The Human Comedy. The story focuses on a pair of earnest, good-hearted lovers who struggle to remain unsullied even as the world around them devolves into a hellish demimonde beset by greed, sensationalism, and baseness.
Standort: Overdrive Onleihbibliothek
ISBN: 978-1-63421-345-5

A heartbroken cavalry officer, Auguste de Maulincour, is strolling through a rather seedy section of Paris when he happens to spot the object of his unrequited love, a married young woman named Clemence. Even more remarkable is the fact that he sees her furtively entering a house of ill repute. Aghast and yet intrigued, Auguste begins to follow Clemence—and what he witnesses plunges him into a world of deception and dark secrets.
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ISBN: 978-1-63421-342-4

The novella Gambara is part of the Philosophical Studies section of Honore de Balzac's The Human Comedy. It follows a tumultuous relationship between Italian nobleman Andrea Marcosini and the beautiful, young Marianna. She happens to be married to a mercurial, much older composer, who some believe is a genius and others regard as an abject failure.
Standort: Overdrive Onleihbibliothek
ISBN: 978-1-63421-340-0

Set against the backdrop of the Peninsular War, Balzac's novella Juana focuses on a storied family of French courtesans who have achieved legendary status. For many generations, the women have lived outside of the bounds of polite society, eschewing the familial involvement of men and maintaining a matrilineal tradition. But with the birth of a little girl named Juana, everything changes.
Standort: Overdrive Onleihbibliothek
ISBN: 978-1-63421-017-1

Immerse yourself in a French pastoral idyll in this engrossing tale from Honore de Balzac, whose unparalleled powers of description will whisk you away to La Grenadiere, a quaint estate in the midst of a blossoming orchard. Indeed, the house itself emerges as one of the most memorable characters in the story.
Standort: Overdrive Onleihbibliothek
ISBN: 978-1-63421-337-0

There's no debate over the fact that philosophers and thinkers have profoundly shaped and influenced human civilization. But how does this transformation take place at the level of the individual? That's the fascinating issue that Honore de Balzac takes on in the novel Louis Lambert, which follows the title character—a precocious schoolboy—as he develops an intense interest in the thought of the Swedish philosopher Emanuel Swedenborg.
Standort: Overdrive Onleihbibliothek
ISBN: 978-1-62011-974-7

Set in the fifteenth century, Maitre Cornelius is a gripping historical novel that illustrates the unbelievable lengths to which some will go in the name of love. Marie, the daughter of the king, is trapped in a loveless marriage with a cruel, violent man. To escape her horrible home life, she begins spending time with a young man named Georges d'Estoutville, who decides to free her from her dangerous marriage via a daring rescue attempt. Will he be able to pull it off?
Standort: Overdrive Onleihbibliothek
ISBN: 978-1-62013-959-2

Set among the sprawling vineyards of France's Loire Valley, Balzac's novel Parisians in the Country follows the life of one Dinah Piedefer, a beautiful and talented young woman who finds herself trapped in a not-so-perfect marriage. Though she is initially content, she gradually begins to bristle against the constraints of her union and the provincial shabbiness of her lifestyle.
Standort: Overdrive Onleihbibliothek
ISBN: 978-1-63421-009-6

This short story is part of the Scenes of Paris Life section of Honore de Balzac's epic masterpiece The Human Comedy. Pierre Grassou is an artist who has many of the attributes necessary for success—but lacks that spark of creativity. Rather than painting original works, he begins painting copies of the great masterworks. Sure, it's financially lucrative, but will it be enough to allow Grassou to find happiness?
Standort: Overdrive Onleihbibliothek
ISBN: 978-1-63421-006-5

One of the unifying themes that wends its way through Honore de Balzac's immense body of work is the corrupting danger of greed—and the often-absurd lengths to which people will go to secure material wealth. In the wonderful novel Rise and Fall of Cesar Birotteau, the title character starts out as a successful perfume-maker who is gradually lured to the dark side by the promise of ill-gotten gains.
Standort: Overdrive Onleihbibliothek
ISBN: 978-1-62013-972-1

French writer Honore de Balzac had many unique strengths, and chief among them is his ability to limn and illuminate subtle differences between social classes. In this pastoral novel, Balzac explores the virtues and follies of country life through the eyes of Emile Blondet, a journalist who was born and raised in the provinces, works in Paris, and has returned to the countryside of his youth for a much-needed vacation.
Standort: Overdrive Onleihbibliothek
ISBN: 978-1-62013-969-1

Regarded by many critics as one of Honore de Balzac's foremost literary achievements, the novel The Alkahest offers an incisive look at the dangers of obsession. Scientist Balthazar Claes begins his research into alchemical properties with the best of intentions, but before long, he begins to neglect everything else in his life.
Standort: Overdrive Onleihbibliothek
ISBN: 978-1-63421-033-1