Ellen Marriage was an English translator from French, renowned for her meticulous renderings of Balzac's novels. She dedicated herself to ensuring readability and accuracy, an effort unusual for translators of her era. Her work on Balzac's "La Comédie humaine," though modestly compensated, was celebrated for its precision, including her travels to France to verify details and specialized vocabulary. While this extensive undertaking was her sole large-scale project, her translations, often appearing in popular editions, remained in print for decades, demonstrating her remarkable commitment to literary fidelity.
This collection of short stories by French author Honoré de Balzac includes 'Cousin Betty' and 'Cousin Pons', two tales of love, revenge, and social climbing in nineteenth-century Paris. Also included are several other stories featuring Balzac's famous recurring characters.
This collection features "The Wild Ass' Skin" alongside other stories, showcasing the literary style and themes of the late 19th century. The high-quality reprint preserves the original text from 1897, allowing readers to experience the narratives as they were first presented. The stories delve into human desires, societal norms, and the complexities of life, reflecting the era's cultural context.
Balzac's work is a detailed exploration of post-Napoleonic French society, showcasing his keen observational skills and commitment to realism. His characters, rich in complexity and moral ambiguity, reflect the intricacies of human nature, while even inanimate objects, particularly in Paris, are given life and personality. This intricate portrayal of life has left a profound impact on numerous literary figures and filmmakers, establishing Balzac as a pivotal influence in European literature.
The TREDITION CLASSICS series aims to revive public domain literature by making it available in print, emphasizing that great works remain timeless. Driven by a passion for literature, the series collaborates with various non-profit projects to enrich its content. A portion of the proceeds from each sale is donated to support these initiatives, allowing readers to contribute to the preservation of significant literary works while enjoying classic literature.
The three short novels that make up this book are concerned in part with the activities of a rich, powerful, sinister and unscrupulous secret society in nineteenth-century France.