Publisher's Synopsis
Scenes From A Courtesan's Life is a novel written by Honore De Balzac, a French author and playwright. The book is part of the larger series of novels called La Comedie Humaine, which explores the social, political, and cultural life of France during the 19th century. The novel follows the life of Esther van Gobseck, a beautiful and ambitious young woman who becomes a courtesan in Paris. The story begins with Esther's early life as a poor girl in the countryside, and her eventual arrival in Paris where she becomes the mistress of a wealthy banker named Baron Nucingen. As Esther gains more power and influence through her relationships with wealthy men, she becomes embroiled in a web of deceit and corruption. She is forced to navigate the treacherous world of high society, where everyone has their own hidden agenda and no one can be trusted. Throughout the novel, Balzac explores themes of love, power, ambition, and corruption. He portrays the courtesan's life as one of both glamour and danger, where women must use their beauty and charm to survive in a world dominated by men. Scenes From A Courtesan's Life is a vivid and compelling portrait of 19th-century Parisian society, and a powerful commentary on the human condition. Balzac's writing is rich and detailed, bringing to life the sights, sounds, and smells of the city and its inhabitants. The book is a must-read for anyone interested in French literature, history, or culture.In 1824, at the last opera ball of the season, several masks were struck by the beauty of a youth who was wandering about the passages and greenroom with the air of a man in search of a woman kept at home by unexpected circumstances. The secret of this behavior, now dilatory and again hurried, is known only to old women and to certain experienced loungers.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.
