L'Ane Mort (1842)

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Hector, an orphan raised by a wealthy uncle, is sent to Paris to study law but becomes entranced by the city's nightlife and excess. His passionate affair with courtesan Fanny leads him into a dangerous rivalry with her lover, M. de Saint-Remy, resulting in jealousy and betrayal. As Hector's life spirals into chaos, he faces trial for a crime he didn't commit. Set against the backdrop of 19th-century Parisian society, the novel explores themes of decadence and class divisions through Janin's sharp wit and social critique.