Publisher's Synopsis
re deThe Splendors and Miseries of Courtesans is a novel by Honore de Balzac, first published in 1895. It is the first volume in a series of novels by Balzac that explores the lives of courtesans in 19th-century France. The novel follows the story of Esther van Gobseck, a beautiful young woman who is forced into a life of prostitution after her family loses their fortune. Esther becomes one of the most sought-after courtesans in Paris, and her clients include some of the wealthiest and most powerful men in the city. Despite her success, Esther is plagued by feelings of loneliness and despair, and she longs for a life of love and respectability. The novel also explores the lives of other courtesans, including Coralie, a talented actress who becomes involved in a tragic love affair, and Valerie Marneffe, a manipulative woman who uses her beauty and charm to climb the social ladder. Through these characters, Balzac exposes the hypocrisy and corruption of French society during the 19th century, and he offers a powerful critique of the institution of prostitution. The Splendors and Miseries of Courtesans is a gripping and insightful novel that offers a fascinating glimpse into the world of 19th-century Parisian society.The Way That Girls Love; How Much Love Costs Old Men; The End Of Bad Roads; The Last Incarnation Of Vautrin.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.
