Part of La Comédie Humaine
First published 2005
This brief tale comes from Balzac's larger collection that includes Country Doctor and Quest of the Absolute. At just 26 pages, the story presents one of Balzac's characteristic explorations of human nature and social contradiction. The narrative focuses on the complex relationship between faith and skepticism in 19th-century French society. Balzac examines how personal beliefs clash with public personas, revealing the tensions that arise when private convictions differ from social expectations. The author draws readers into a world where religious doubt and spiritual yearning coexist in unexpected ways. Through his precise observation of character and society, Balzac illuminates the contradictions that define human experience. The story captures the essence of his broader literary project while standing as a complete work in its own right.
Genres: fiction, classics, classic-literature, french-literature, literary-fiction, 19th-century
Vibes: contemplative, introspective, ironic, psychologically-complex, thought-provoking
Tropes: dual-identity, internal-conflict, social-hypocrisy
Setting: France
Period: 19th century
48 pages · Paperback · Kessinger Publishing