History of the Thirteen

The three short novels that make up this book are concerned in part with the activities of a rich, powerful, sinister and unscrupulous secret society in nineteenth-century France. Passionate and perceptive, the three short novels that make up Balzac''s History of the Thirteen are concerned in part with the activities of a rich, powerful, sinister and unscrupulous secret society in nineteenth-century France. While the deeds of ''The Thirteen'' remain frequently in the background, however, the individual novels are concerned with exploring various forms of desire. A tragic love story, Ferragus depicts a marriage destroyed by suspicion, revelation and misunderstanding. The Duchess de Langeais explores the anguish that results when a society coquette tries to seduce a heroic ex-soldier, while The Girl with the Golden Eyes offers a frank consideration of desire and sexuality. Together, these works provide a firm and fascinating foundation for Balzac''s many later portrayals of Parisian life in his great novel-cycle The Human Comedy.

• | Author: Honore de Balzac, Herbert Hunt
• | Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
• | Publication Date: Aug 29, 1974
• | Number of Pages:
• | Language: eng
• | Binding: Paperback / softback
• | ISBN-13: 9780140443011
• | ISBN-10: 0140443010