| Author |
Balzac, Honoré de, 1799-1850 |
| Translator |
Waring, James |
| Uniform Title |
La cousine Bette. English
|
| Title |
Cousin Betty
|
| Note |
Wikipedia page about this book: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cousin_Bette
|
| Note |
Reading ease score: 78.3 (7th grade). Fairly easy to read.
|
| Credits |
Produced by John Bickers, and Dagny, and David Widger
|
| Summary |
"Cousin Betty" by Honoré de Balzac is a novel written in the mid-19th century, set against the backdrop of Parisian society. The story revolves around the complex relationships within two families, primarily focusing on Baron Hulot d'Ervy, his wife Madame Hulot, and their cousin Lisbeth Fischer, known as Cousin Betty, who harbors deep-seated envy and resentment towards her more fortunate relatives. As the narrative unfolds, themes of ambition, moral decay, social status, and familial betrayal emerge intricately woven through the characters' lives. The opening of "Cousin Betty" introduces a rich array of characters and sets the stage for the unfolding drama. It begins with Baron Hulot arriving at his home, showcasing his proud yet declining status and establishing the tension within the household. The Baroness, Adeline, grapples with her husband's infidelities and financial mismanagement, which places the family’s future in jeopardy. As tensions rise, much of the drama unfolds through interactions between the Baron, the Baroness, and other key figures like Monsieur Crevel, who represents both the social ambitions of the era and the struggles of family connections. Lisbeth, characterized by her bitterness and jealousy, navigates her unfulfilled desires against the backdrop of her cousin’s apparent happiness, signaling the turbulent undercurrents that will drive the narrative forward. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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| Language |
English |
| LoC Class |
PQ: Language and Literatures: Romance literatures: French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese
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| Subject |
Didactic fiction
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| Subject |
French fiction -- Translations into English
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| Subject |
Paris (France) -- Social life and customs -- 19th century -- Fiction
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| Category |
Text |
| EBook-No. |
1749 |
| Release Date |
May 1, 1999 |
| Most Recently Updated |
Jan 27, 2021 |
| Copyright Status |
Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads |
363 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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