The Illustrious Gaudissart by Honoré de Balzac
"The Illustrious Gaudissart" by Honoré de Balzac is a satirical novella written during the early 19th century, specifically reflecting the period of the Restoration in France. This work, categorized as a comic social commentary, focuses on the character of Gaudissart, a commercial traveler, who represents the blend of mundane commercial activities with the lively and chaotic world of provincial French society. The story critiques the gaps between Parisian sophistication and provincial simplicity,
illustrating the humorous misadventures of its protagonist. In the novella, Felix Gaudissart, the titular "illustrious" traveler, boasts of his persuasive skills as he navigates through various provinces, attempting to sell insurance and subscriptions to a newspaper while engaging with the local populace. His encounters highlight a series of comedic misunderstandings and social faux pas, primarily when he unwittingly becomes entangled with a local madman, Margaritis, whom he believes to be a wealthy benefactor. The story culminates in a duel, initially intended as a matter of honor, which ultimately resolves in an unexpected camaraderie over personality clashes and misjudgments. Through humor, Balzac critiques social norms, ambitions, and the ridiculousness inherent in human interactions across class divides. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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About this eBook
| Author | Balzac, Honoré de, 1799-1850 |
|---|---|
| Translator | Wormeley, Katharine Prescott, 1830-1908 |
| Title | The Illustrious Gaudissart |
| Note | Reading ease score: 68.9 (8th & 9th grade). Neither easy nor difficult to read. |
| Note | Wikipedia page about this book: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%27illustre_Gaudissart |
| Credits | Produced by John Bickers, and Dagny, and David Widger |
| Language | English |
| LoC Class | PQ: Language and Literatures: Romance literatures: French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese |
| Subject | French fiction -- Translations into English |
| Category | Text |
| EBook-No. | 1474 |
| Release Date | Sep 1, 1998 |
| Most Recently Updated | Jan 27, 2021 |
| Copyright Status | Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads | 174 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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