Eugenie Grandet by Honoré de Balzac

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About this eBook

Author Balzac, Honoré de, 1799-1850
Translator Wormeley, Katharine Prescott, 1830-1908
Title Eugenie Grandet
Credits Produced by John Bickers, and Dagny, and David Widger
Summary "Eugenie Grandet" by Honoré de Balzac is a novel written during the early 19th century, which explores themes of wealth, avarice, and familial duty in a provincial French town. The story centers around the character of Monsieur Grandet, a wealthy and miserly wine-grower, and his only daughter, Eugenie, whose life is shaped by her father's overwhelming greed and ambitions. At the start of the novel, Balzac paints a vivid picture of the somber and stagnant life in Saumur, contrasting its bleak provinciality with the richness of its history. Monsieur Grandet’s character is introduced as a former cooper who has amassed a considerable fortune through cunning agricultural investments. His life is marked by a strict regime and a profound disdain for extravagance, which extends to the treatment of his wife and daughter. The opening chapters set the stage for a narrative steeped in social dynamics and ambitions, as different local families vie for Eugenie's hand in marriage, each motivated by her father's wealth. This initial glimpse into Grandet's household introduces a mix of familial tension and societal expectations, hinting that the arrival of Eugenie's cousin Charles will further complicate their lives and relationships. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
Language English
LoC Class PQ: Language and Literatures: Romance literatures: French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese
Subject Fathers and daughters -- Fiction
Subject Misers -- Fiction
Subject France -- Social life and customs -- 19th century -- Fiction
Subject French fiction -- Translations into English
Category Text
EBook-No. 1715
Release Date
Most Recently Updated Jan 27, 2021
Copyright Status Public domain in the USA.
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