Publisher's Synopsis
The Ball At Sceaux is a novella written by Honore de Balzac, a French novelist and playwright. It was first published in 1830 as part of a collection of short stories titled Scenes From Private Life. The story is set in the countryside outside Paris, at the chateau of the Marquis and Marquise d'Aiglemont.The plot revolves around the young and beautiful Emilie de Fontaine, who is invited to attend a ball at the nearby chateau of Sceaux. Emilie is excited at the prospect of attending the ball, as it is her first social event since leaving her convent school. However, her mother is hesitant to allow her to attend, fearing that her daughter's lack of experience will lead her into trouble.Despite her mother's concerns, Emilie attends the ball and quickly becomes the center of attention. She is courted by several young men, including the wealthy and handsome Count de Fontaine, who is immediately smitten with her. However, Emilie's innocence and naivety lead her to make a series of mistakes, and she finds herself caught up in a web of deceit and intrigue.As the night wears on, Emilie becomes increasingly confused and disoriented, and she is eventually rescued by the Count de Fontaine. He takes her back to her mother's house, where she is able to rest and recover from the events of the evening. In the end, Emilie learns a valuable lesson about the dangers of naivety and the importance of being cautious in social situations.The Ball At Sceaux is a classic example of Balzac's realist style, which focuses on the everyday lives of ordinary people. The novella explores themes of social class, love, and the dangers of youthful innocence. It is a timeless tale that continues to resonate with readers today.As it is extremely doubtful that the fame of the ""Bal de Sceaux"" should ever have extended beyond the borders of the Department of the Seine, it will be necessary to give some account of this weekly festivity, which at that time was important enough to threaten to become an institution. The environs of the little town of Sceaux enjoy a reputation due to the scenery, which is considered enchanting.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.