Synopses & Reviews
This convenient volume includes six of the great French writer's most highly regarded short stories, including: "An Episode During the Terror," "A Passion in the Desert," "The Revolutionary Conscript," "The Forsaken Woman," "The Unknown Masterpiece," and two more. Excellent new English translations on facing pages. Introduction. Footnotes.
Synopsis
Considered a founder of the realistic school of fiction, prolific French novelist Honor de Balzac (1799-1850) wrote in meticulous detail, depicting ordinary and undistinguished lives in tales that nevertheless abounded in melodramatic plots and violent passions.
This convenient dual-language volume includes six of Balzac's most highly regarded short stories: "An Episode During the Terror," a deftly told tale contrasting material poverty with spiritual riches; "A Passion in the Desert," inspired by Balzac's interest in the Near East and his fascination with Napoleon; "The Revolutionary Conscript," a critique of provincial life; "The Forsaken Woman," an intriguing study of female psychology and a how-to seduction manual; "The Unknown Masterpiece," which focuses on the conflict between an artist's commitment to his work and his relationship with the woman who loves him; and "Facino Cane," a tale of a destitute blind man's dreams of restoring his former wealth and power.
Stanley Appelbaum has provided excellent, line-for-line English translations of the text, as well as an informative introduction and notes related to each story. This superb selection of tales by one of the world's great writers of fiction is sure to delight students and devotees of French language and literature.
Synopsis
Six short-story masterpieces by great French novelist include "An Episode During the Terror," "A Passion in the Desert," "The Revolutionary Conscript," 3 more. Excellent new English translations on facing pages.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Un épisode sous la Terreur
An Episode During the Terror
Une passion dans le désert
A Passion in the Desert
Le réquisitionnaire
The Revolutionary Conscript
Le chef-d' œuvre inconnu
The Unknown Masterpiece
La femme abandonnée
The Foresaken Woman
Facino Cane
Facino Cane
Notes