A Murky Business

La Comédie Humaine #59

by Honoré de Balzac, Herbert J. Hunt (Translator)

Characterized by amoral ruthlessness, the politics of A Murky Business would seem to bear out Balzac's questionable precept.

Set earlier than most of Balzac's Comedie Humaine, the novel covers the years 1803-6, when Napolean was making himself first Consul and then Emperor. The inclusion of Napoleon himself, as well as figures like Talleyrand and Fouche, makes this a historical novel. But it is also an early example of the detective story, in which the sinister, implacable police agent, Corentin, stalks his way towards vengeance on his aristocractic enemies.

Genres: Classics, Fiction, France, French Literature, Historical Fiction, 19th Century, Novels

222 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1841

About the author

French writer Honoré de Balzac (born Honoré Balzac), a founder of the realist school of fiction, portrayed the panorama of society in a body of works, known collectively as La comédie humaine .

Honoré de Balzac authored 19th-century novels and plays. After the fall of Napoléon in 1815, his magnum opus, a sequence of almost a hundred novels and plays, entitled, presents life in the years.

Due to keen observation of fine detail and unfiltered representation, European literature regards Balzac. He features renowned multifaceted, even complex, morally ambiguous, full lesser characters. Character well imbues inanimate objects; the city of Paris, a backdrop, takes on many qualities. He influenced many famous authors, including the novelists Marcel Proust, Émile Zola, Charles John Huffam Dickens, Gustave Flaubert, Henry James, and Jack Kerouac as well as important philosophers, such as Friedrich Engels. Many works of Balzac, made into films, continue to inspire.

An enthusiastic reader and independent thinker as a child, Balzac adapted with trouble to the teaching style of his grammar. His willful nature caused trouble throughout his life and frustrated his ambitions to succeed in the world of business. Balzac finished, and people then apprenticed him as a legal clerk, but after wearying of banal routine, he turned his back on law. He attempted a publisher, printer, businessman, critic, and politician before and during his career. He failed in these efforts From his own experience, he reflects life difficulties and includes scenes.

Possibly due to his intense schedule and from health problems, Balzac suffered throughout his life. Financial and personal drama often strained his relationship with his family, and he lost more than one friend over critical reviews. In 1850, he married Ewelina Hańska, his longtime paramour; five months later, he passed away.

Reviews

[Manny · Rating 4 out of 5]

- Walter Scott! Walter Scott!! I'm so tired of hearing everyone ask why I can't write a novel like Walter Scott!!! Sacré bleu!!!! What's this stupid Scotsman got that I don't got?

- Well Honoré, you know people like their historical novels. They—

- Historical novel. Fine. I'll set my next book in 1803. Early Empire. Done. What else do these idiots want?

- Noble feelings—

- Noble feelings. I can do noble feelings. I'll give them noble feelings like they'll feel they're back in the age of fucking chivalry. That it?

- You know Honoré, I mean of course he's writing for the prudish English, we're French, but sometimes I think you put in just a little bit too much sex. Like—

- I get it, I get it! Out with the sex! Not a lewd harlot, depraved countess, licentious rake or frolicsome actress will you see in this book! Squeaky clean is my motto! You'll—

- And an ending. Walter Scott does good endings.

- What?!!

- I said, Walter Scott does good endings. He—

- I'm sorry, I do good endings. Scott is a hack. A hack! I'm so tired of watching his moronic heroes defeat impossible odds to save the girl and live happily ever after. I know how to do it right.

- But Honoré—

- Not another word out of you. I've already got this all planned out. Costume drama to beat the band, noble sentiments coming out of everyone's asses, not a scrap of sex, and a realistic ending where all the good guys get killed.

- Honoré, are you sure—

- Sure I'm sure. Une ténébreuse affaire will have the Scott fans lining up round the block. Just watch me.

[Martin Iguaran · Rating 2 out of 5]

Por algún motivo incomprensible, esta novela estaba clasificada como parte del género "horror y misterio" en la librería donde la compré. Pero no tiene nada de eso, es una novela histórica. La Revolución Francesa y las guerras napoleónicas que le siguieron fueron un período muy tumultuoso que dio abundante material a los escritores de la primera mitad del siglo XIX. A fin de cuentas, "El conde de Montecristo" tiene el mismo contexto. Pero las diferencias entre esa novela, que ha penetrado en la cultura popular, y ésta, que no es nada conocida, saltan a la vista.
La verdad es que no me gustó en absoluto. El relato está repleto de referencias a todo tipo de personajes históricos envueltos en intrigas y traiciones, pero no muy bien explicados. La acción cambia de un escenario a otro sin una transición de por medio y hay instancias en que la trama se vuelve confusa. Balzac escribió el libro por entregas, y se nota en la estructura y las diferencias de tono entre capítulo y capítulo.
Balzac era un gran escritor, pero no me parece que ésta sea la mejor de sus novelas. Parece la obra menor de un escritor prolífico.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the best Balzac novel. Lots of secrets. Hidden places in the forest. The story is not a strong one although in parts it was exciting with intrigue, violent confrontations and injustice. The story is set around a conspiracy to depose Napoleón. Quite atmospheric in places with the forest scenes and a secret cellar.

Set when Napoleon took control of France in the early 1800s. It is about an aristocratic family who oppose Napoleon and how they are trapped into a crime they did not commit.

Lawrence the female countess tries to free her twin cousins with Michu her servant. Intrigue where powerful politicians decide to play both sides of the fence. They then have to create a distraction to cover their tracks and Lawrence’s family are the patsy’s.

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dies war mein zweiter Roman aus Balzacs Zyklus "Die menschliche Komödie". Er bezieht sich (an einer Stelle sogar im Text) auf Die Chouans oder die Königstreuen, die ich zuvor gelesen hatte. Das verbindende Element ist der Polizeispitzel Corentin. Allerdings befinden wir uns jetzt am Übergang der Republik zum napoleonischen Kaiserreich. Noch aber sitzt der erste Konsul nicht so fest im Sattel, dass er keine interne (republikanische) oder externe (royalistische) Opposition mehr fürchten muss. Und tatsächlich findet sich eine junge Gruppe von Adeligen, die einen Anschlag auf den Usurpator vorbereiten. Lange bevor sie nach Paris gelangen, fliegt ihre Verschwörung auf und Fouchés Schergen sind ihnen auf den Fersen. Noch gelingt es der jungen Marquise Laurance de Cinq-Cygne und dem ihr ergebene vierschrötige Verwalter Michu die Attentäter vor Corentin zu verstecken.



Dieser rächt sich aber im Folgenden und stellt den beteiligten eine Falle, die letztendlich zu deren Verurteilung führt. Nur ein persönliches Bittgesuch beim mittlerweile gekrönten Napoleon am Vorabend der Schlacht bei Jena und Auerstedt kann die jungen Adeligen retten. Michu aber wird guillotiniert. Zum Ende erfährt der Leser, dass man die ganze Geschichte in einem weiteren Kontext verstehen muss, in den die höchsten Vertreter des Staates involviert waren.



Mich hat dieser frühe Polizei- und Gerichtsroman begeistert. Anders als in den Chouans verliert sich Balzac verliert nicht in ausladenden Landschaftsbeschreibungen, sondern erhält die Spannungsbögen aufrecht. Auch die Personen sind lebhaft geschildert, Corentin wurde mir sogar zeitweise sympathisch mit seinem Scharfblick und detektivischem Spürsinn. Dies war sicher nicht mein letzter Balzac.

[Nancy Oakes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Somewhere along the line my attention was drawn to this book as a representative of an early crime story, so I decided I'd add it to my list of history-of-mystery books I've been reading this year.

I've posted about this at my reading journal if anyone's interested in a few, spoiler-free lines to summarize the plot; if not, read on.

Set in 1803, just as Napoleon is on the verge of crowning himself Emperor, the book gave me much more than I'd bargained for -- this novel not only has a mystery to be solved but also it's a good book of historical fiction, a work of political intrigue, police machinations, and much much more . While I don't think it's Balzac's best work, I'll admit I had a LOT of fun with it. I will also say that I recognized several characters in this book who have roots in earlier Balzac novels, so just as a word of advice, this may not be the place to start reading this author if you're so inclined.

While I very much enjoyed this book, my real interest at this moment is in how it stands up as an early example of a mystery/crime novel. Herbert J. Hunt in the introduction notes that "We may find some fault" in how it fares as a "whodunit," citing three major issues re various plot elements, but concludes by saying that "it may be accepted as a fair example of an early mystery story...," and I have to concur. There is certainly a mystery to be found in and among the machinations of the police here, one which is not fully solved until just toward the end. More importantly though, the book reveals much about the courts and the system of justice of the time -- and is very much worth reading.

recommended for sure!

[Silvia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Girandola di intrighi e colpi di scena durante i giorni movimentati del nascente impero napoleonico, sempre godibili gli "spiegoni" di Balzac; é necessario un minimo di contesto storico per apprezzarlo al meglio.

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Non ha raccolto il mio entusiasmo questo romanzo che rispetto ad altri capolavori di Balzac presenta, secondo me, contenuti troppo confusi, vicende intricate ed oscure e tanti personaggi, che rendono difficoltosa la lettura. Si tratta di un episodio secondario della Comédie humaine, significativo non solo per illuminare affari oscuri della società dell’ottocento, ma anche per trarne riflessioni universali, valide per ogni tempo, soprattutto il nostro.
Il punto di partenza del romanzo è un episodio reale accaduto nel 1800, quando un avvocato assurto alla nobiltà grazie a Napoleone Bonaparte dopo i successi raccolti durante la Rivoluzione francese fu rapito in pieno giorno da agenti del ministro della polizia Fouché, tenuto prigioniero in un sotterraneo per una ventina di giorni e poi liberato per ordine dello stesso ministro. Il rapimento fu in realtà un eccesso di “zelo” dei poliziotti che avevano ricevuto soltanto l’ordine di trovare e distruggere delle carte che il conte rapito teneva nascoste da tanti anni nella sua proprietà –ex proprietà pubblica, che la rivoluzione tolse ai nobili del luogo e che Napoleone poi assegnò ai nuovi nobili da lui voluti-.
Da qui prende le mosse la storia raccontata da Balzac, che formalmente può ritenersi divisa in due parti: nella prima parte si raccontano le indagini della onnipotente polizia napoleonica nei confronti di quattro giovani nobili, i signori di Simeuse e d’Hauteserre, rovinati dalla Rivoluzione Francese che tolse loro ogni proprietà senza toccare la dignità e l’onore, coinvolti in intrighi internazionali capitanati dall’Inghilterra rivolti a eliminare Napoleone Bonaparte. Senza scendere nei particolari, a dire il vero parecchio ingarbugliati, con tanti personaggi, intrecci e colpi di scena, Balzac descrive poi, con una dovizia di particolari mai pesante ma che richiede una particolare attenzione nella lettura, il successivo episodio in cui i quattro giovani si trovano coinvolti, loro malgrado, e cioè il rapimento del pari di Francia, il conte di Gondreville, ed il lungo processo che seguì al loro arresto, concluso con un esito scontato, la condanna. Nella parte finale un personaggio secondario svela come sono andate veramente le cose, cosicchè finalmente il tenebroso affare si chiarisce.
Su tutta la storia spicca un personaggio femminile, la contessa Laurence di Cinq-Cygne, il vero deus ex machina della narrazione, una donna di carattere, orgogliosa, coraggiosa, indomabile, che arriva fino a Bonaparte per salvare gli amatissimi cugini di Simeuse e il fedele fattore Michu, unico personaggio positivo in una trama di intrighi, giudici corrotti, omicidi, poliziotti cinici e violenti, spie che fanno il doppio gioco; insomma, inutile dire come la storia si ripeta sempre, e la storia è fatta di questi uomini.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

An Historical Mystery is a "mystery" novel written by Honore de Balzac and published in 1841. It is one of that really long La Comédie humaine or The Human Comedy to me thing he wrote and wrote and wrote. I say he wrote and wrote because his Comedy consists of 91 finished works, not just novels or he'd still be at it, but also stories and essays, I don't know what the essays are about I haven't read any of them. There are also 46 unfinished works some are only as titles which is about as unfinished as you can get. I wonder why he didn't at least try to finish one thing before starting another. Or at least three or four things, having 46 things going at one time wouldn't get me past the title either. The Comedy does not include Balzac's five theatrical plays or his collection of humorous tales. It seems I've also missed any "humorous tales" out there too. Then along came Émile Zola with his Les Rougon-Macquart series, I don't think he ever had a humorous thought. The title of the series, Balzac's not Zola's, is considered an allusion to Dante's Divine Comedy. The stories in the Comedy are placed in a variety of settings, with characters reappearing in multiple stories, which is rather annoying at times because I have to pause and try to remember why I know this person.

An Historical Mystery, or as I like to think of it, A Historical Mystery is divided into two parts. The story opens in the year 1803, this is how I know that:

The autumn of the year 1803 was one of the finest in the early part of that period of the present century which we now call “Empire.” Rain had refreshed the earth during the month of October, so that the trees were still green and leafy in November. The French people were beginning to put faith in a secret understanding between the skies and Bonaparte, then declared Consul for life,—a belief in which that man owes part of his prestige; strange to say, on the day the sun failed him, in 1812, his luck ceased!

See, it is autumn, it is 1803, and it is the "Empire". Be prepared for that, we hear a lot about the empire in this book. Words like Bonaparte, Consul, Citizen, we'll see those often. But for now we are in the forest with Michu and his wife, mother-in-law and their son. All these people seem to be terrified of Michu.

The air was so pure, the atmosphere so tempered that a family was sitting out of doors as if it were summer. A man dressed in a hunting-jacket of green drilling with green buttons, and breeches of the same stuff, and wearing shoes with thin soles and gaiters to the knee, was cleaning a gun with the minute care a skilful huntsman gives to the work in his leisure hours. This man had neither game nor game-bag, nor any of the accoutrements which denote either departure for a hunt or the return from it; and two women sitting near were looking at him as though beset by a terror they could ill-conceal. Any one observing the scene taking place in this leafy nook would have shuddered, as the old mother-in-law and the wife of the man we speak of were now shuddering. A huntsman does not take such minute precautions with his weapon to kill small game, neither does he use, in the department of the Aube, a heavy rifled carbine.

Now if you don't know a lot about the French Revolution and lots of people involved in it, doing things like trying to take over France or any other country nearby, killing each other in various different ways, finding other people hiding so they won't get killed and killing them too. If you don't know a lot about all that, you'll learn it reading this. But back to Michu, Balzac seemed to like long detailed descriptions:

There is such a thing as prophetic physiognomy. If it were possible (and such a vital statistic would be of value to society) to obtain exact likenesses of those who perish on the scaffold, the science of Lavatar and also that of Gall would prove unmistakably that the heads of all such persons, even those who are innocent, show prophetic signs. Yes, fate sets its mark on the faces of those who are doomed to die a violent death of any kind. Now, this sign, this seal, visible to the eye of an observer, was imprinted on the expressive face of the man with the rifled carbine. Short and stout, abrupt and active in his motions as a monkey, though calm in temperament, Michu had a white face injected with blood, and features set close together like those of a Tartar,—a likeness to which his crinkled red hair conveyed a sinister expression. His eyes, clear and yellow as those of a tiger, showed depths behind them in which the glance of whoever examined the man might lose itself and never find either warmth or motion. Fixed, luminous, and rigid, those eyes terrified whoever gazed into them. The singular contrast between the immobility of the eyes and the activity of the body increased the chilling impression conveyed by a first sight of Michu. Action, always prompt in this man, was the outcome of a single thought; just as the life of animals is, without reflection, the outcome of instinct. Since 1793 he had trimmed his red beard to the shape of a fan. Even if he had not been (as he was during the Terror) president of a club of Jacobins, this peculiarity of his head would in itself have made him terrible to behold. His Socratic face with its blunt nose was surmounted by a fine forehead, so projecting, however, that it overhung the rest of the features. The ears, well detached from the head, had the sort of mobility which we find in those of wild animals, which are ever on the qui-vive. The mouth, half-open, as the custom usually is among country-people, showed teeth that were strong and white as almonds, but irregular. Gleaming red whiskers framed this face, which was white and yet mottled in spots. The hair, cropped close in front and allowed to grow long at the sides and on the back of the head, brought into relief, by its savage redness, all the strange and fateful peculiarities of this singular face. The neck which was short and thick, seemed to tempt the axe.

I wonder what you look like when your ears are well detached from your head. And as for being able to tell a person is doomed to die a violent death by how they look, in this case everyone must have looked the same because it's the French Revolution, as far as I can tell everyone died a violent death, almost everyone anyway. His wife is described like this:

Madame Michu looked appealingly to heaven. A beautiful fair woman with blue eyes, composed and thoughtful in expression and made like an antique statue, she seemed to be a prey to some dark and bitter grief.

I found the descriptions of anything in the story long and confusing, or at times long and boring, this is the description of where Michu lives:

The great fortune of the Simeuse family, adherents of the House of Burgundy, dates from the time when the Guises were in conflict with the Valois. Richelieu first, and afterwards Louis XIV. remembered their devotion to the factious house of Lorraine, and rebuffed them. Then the Marquis de Simeuse, an old Burgundian, old Guiser, old leaguer, old frondeur (he inherited the four great rancors of the nobility against royalty), came to live at Cinq-Cygne. The former courtier, rejected at the Louvre, married the widow of the Comte de Cinq-Cygne, younger branch of the famous family of Chargeboeuf, one of the most illustrious names in Champagne, and now as celebrated and opulent as the elder. The marquis, among the richest men of his day, instead of wasting his substance at court, built the chateau of Gondreville, enlarged the estate by the purchase of others, and united the several domains, solely for the purposes of a hunting-ground. He also built the Simeuse mansion at Troyes, not far from that of the Cinq-Cygnes. These two old houses and the bishop’s palace were long the only stone mansions at Troyes. The marquis sold Simeuse to the Duc de Lorraine. His son wasted the father’s savings and some part of his great fortune under the reign of Louis XV., but he subsequently entered the navy, became a vice-admiral, and redeemed the follies of his youth by brilliant services. The Marquis de Simeuse, son of this naval worthy, perished with his wife on the scaffold at Troyes, leaving twin sons, who emigrated and were, at the time our history opens, still in foreign parts following the fortunes of the house of Conde.

The rond-point was the scene of the meet in the time of the “Grand Marquis”—a name given in the family to the Simeuse who built Gondreville. Since 1789 Michu lived in the hunting lodge at the entrance to the park, built in the reign of Louis XIV., and called the pavilion of Cinq-Cygne. The village of Cinq-Cygne is at the end of the forest of Nodesme (a corruption of Notre-Dame) which was reached through the fine avenue of four rows of elms where Michu’s dog was now suspecting spies. After the death of the Grand Marquis this pavilion fell into disuse. The vice-admiral preferred the court and the sea to Champagne, and his son gave the dilapidated building to Michu for a dwelling.

There, that's how he got his house, was it necessary for all that to tell us that? OK, the rest of Micha's getting to live there I'm doing my own way. The house was once beautiful, surrounded by a park and park walls. Most of it is gone, the new government has no need of Princes and Dukes and Marquis, so they have no need of the grand estates they built. And the particular Marquis who built all this was Marquis de Simeuse, and he and his wife perished on the scaffold at Troyes long ago. Their twin sons left the country and are living somewhere that isn't France. Now Michu lives in the the smaller home there and is the bailiff of Gondreville.

But the person just as important, or more important in the book is Mademoiselle de Cinq-Cygne, who has the first name of Laurence, a name I've never known a woman to have before. She was a cousin of the Simeuse brothers, remember the two twins who were now in another country. Here she is:

The old Frank name of the Cinq-Cygnes and the Chargeboeufs was Duineff. Cinq-Cygne became that of the younger branch of the Chargeboeufs after the defence of a castle made, during their father’s absence, by five daughters of that race, all remarkably fair, and of whom no one expected such heroism. One of the first Comtes de Champagne wished, by bestowing this pretty name, to perpetuate the memory of their deed as long as the family existed. Laurence, the last of her race, was, contrary to Salic law, heiress of the name, the arms, and the manor. She was therefore Comtesse de Cinq-Cygne in her own right; her husband would have to take both her name and her blazon, which bore for device the glorious answer made by the elder of the five sisters when summoned to surrender the castle, “We die singing.” Worthy descendant of these noble heroines, Laurence was fair and lily-white as though nature had made her for a wager. The lines of her blue veins could be seen through the delicate close texture of her skin. Her beautiful golden hair harmonized delightfully with eyes of the deepest blue. Everything about her belonged to the type of delicacy.

Laurence was an orphan, I can't remember what happened to her parents but they probably had their heads cut off, everybody else did. She lived with Monsieur d'Hauteserre, her guardian, he had two sons in the army of the princes, which means they weren't liked much around there at that time either, so they are off in some place else not France too. Laurence is one of the good guys of the story, so is Micha believe it or not, and the twins and the d'Hauteserre sons are some of the good ones, stupid, but good. I could have helped them out a little by telling them that when the bad guys tell you all is forgiven and you are free to come home, you probably shouldn't come home. But there are plenty of bad guys too, probably more than good guys, Malin, the guy who bought Gondreville isn't all that nice, neither are Corentin or Fouche. The mystery in all this, remember the title does have that word in it, the mystery, other than why do these four young men come back when they do, is what happened to Milan? Remember him, he's the guy who bought the Gondreville estate when the twins parents were killed. Now they are back and he is missing, that's the mystery. Another mystery is how I got through all this revolution history part, but I did. Then there is the ending. The last chapter ending where all the loose ends are tied together. I hated it, I would rather have had the questions unanswered, you'll have to read the book to find out why though. Balzac is one of my favorite authors, but this time I guess I just wasn't in the mood to keep straight who is a duke, or a marquis, or a citizen, or who wants to kill who, I found it confusing. But it still gets 3 stars, maybe 3.5 if that title started with an A not an AN. Happy reading.

[Miriam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Balzac's novels are a very entertaining way to learn French history. In this one there's also a sort of mystery and a trial and the most remarkable character is Laurence, a young countess involved in a conspiracy against Napoleon.

[Nhat · Rating 1 out of 5]

Didn't actually finish this, because it's one of the most tiring, tedious reads I've ever done in my entire life. This book was the first story in the giant mystery omnibus called Classic Mystery Collection. I had no idea who is the main character, I guess it can Michu, the bailiff of Gondreville or Lauren the countess. The story is set in France, when Napoleon still ruled but there was ongoing attempts to overthrow him. This book, I think, is the embodiment of everything wrong with classics. I doubt the concept of "Show, don't tell" didn't exist back then, which is why this book read like a giant newspaper article instead of a story, there was no immediacy in the narrative. The story started with Michu suspiciously oiling his carbine for some unknown purpose, then the author spent the next 10 pages delving on the history of the neighborhood, a bunch of arbitrary names are thrown at you so that you lose track of who is who, and who is Michu connected with. The dynamics between the characters are not shown, but summarized, the complex relationship between Michu and his wife, between Lauren and her aunt and uncle, or how Lauren trained the boy Godard (not sure if spelled right) into a skillful spy, all of these relationships and events are not shown but compressed into a sentence or two stating such and such.

And then there's the descriptions. Oh god, the motherfuking descriptions! Two men walked from the gate, and the author will spend three pages describing one man's clothing, and another three fuking pages describing the other's. Do you know what a walking cane looks like? Well the author will show you, he won't just tell it's a damn cane, he'll tell you the kind of wood, what color is it painted, what material made off the tip, its pattern, and the what color is the handle, what shape it is. And that's just a ****ing cane, wait till he gets to the breeches and gaiters and garment and hats.

Not just the clothing, places are described in overflowing details. Architecture type, windows, gardens... this is not such a bad thing, if the author spared you about the details of its inhabitant. The author will describe EVERYONE who lived in that house, from their history to their daily habits to the inter-relationship between each and everyone of them, their temperaments, so much fuking details that it wouldn't surprise me if the author took two pages describing how they wipe their asses after taking a shit.

Sure, I learn a few new words after reading this, but imo this is a terrible book.

2/10

[Elizabeth (Alaska) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is also translated as An Historical Mystery or sometimes even The Gondreville Mystery and is in Balzac's group of Scenes from a Political Life. it is quite different from others I've read of Balzac, but so was the one other I've read in this group. There is definitely some mystery here. I had suspicions of the who which somewhat resembled the actual solution, but had in no way guessed the why.

This is an historical novel and some of the characters were real: Napoleon, of course, and his police chief Fouche; Talleyrand makes a brief appearance. When Balzac sprinkles his text with these, he writes as if the primary story was also real. I find no evidence that it was, but I admit to not looking deeply. Gondreville is currently found in three locations in France. but the one in which this story takes place in the province of Champagne near Troyes.

I think if you were only going to read one Balzac, this should not be it. I did enjoy it, but I like Balzac in general. For me, it sits right on the border between 3 and 4 stars and I'm feeling generous today.

[Gláucia Renata · Rating 4 out of 5]

Publicado em 1841, faz parte das Cenas da Vida Política.
A ação se inicia em 1803 e é baseado num acontecimento real, o rapto de Clemente de Gris. Napoleão Bonaparte acabava de ser proclamado cônsul vitalício e todas as grandes famílias da aristocracia realistas, que apoiavam os Bourbon, viviam dias difíceis: perderam seus bens e eram considerados inimigos do atual governo.
Nesse contexto temos a família de Cinq-Cygne e Laurence é a figura central. Personagem muito interessante, é uma moça de 23 anos que após assistir seus parentes serem condenados e mortos torna-se o eixo central da família. Forte, corajosa e determinada, sua vida é norteada pelo ódio que tem pelo novo sistema e pela sua fervorosa convicção política; não medirá esforços a fim de recuperar os bens perdidos.
Michu (meu personagem preferido), ex-jacobino é o administrador da propriedade. Ex-jacobino, é temido por todos por seu passado e aspecto de homem brutalizado. Mas o homem é todo honra e lealdade cega à família e lutará junto com Laurence mesmo que no passado tenham defendido ideais opostos.
Também temos um interesse triângulo amoroso composto pelos gêmeos Adriano e Roberto, primos de Laurence que disputam sua mão. Viviam fora da França mas resolvem voltar à sua casa onde terão que viver escondidos, clandestinamente. Suas cabeças estão em perigo no novo regime. Essa relação é bem interessante, Laurence se nega a escolher entre os dois afirmando ser impossível: seus coração pertence a eles e ela seria incapaz de se decidir entre um ou outro.
Do outro lado temos Malin, fervoroso revolucionário, ambiciona derrotar essa famíla e obter seus bens. É o antagonista da trama.
Crime, sequestro, espionagem, a história culmina num julgamento onde Balzac descreve com riqueza de detalhes o sistema judicial francês da época, se mostrando mais uma vez como um grande e acurado observador de seu tempo.



Histórico de leitura
12/08/2018

"Tivera quarenta anos muito cedo; mas vingava-se agarrando-se a eles havia vinte anos."

"O outono do ano de 1803 foi um dos mais belos do primeiro período desse século, período que denominamos Império. Em outubro, algumas chuvas haviam refrescado as campinas, as árvores ainda estavam verdes e com sua folhas, em meados de novembro. Por esse motivo, o povo começava a admitir entre o céu e Bonaparte, que fora proclamado cônsul vitalício, um entendimento, ao qual esse homem deveu parte de seu prestígio; e, coisa estranha!, no dia em que, no ano de 1812, o sol lhe faltou, cessaram as suas prosperidades."

[Bob Newman · Rating 5 out of 5]

meanwhile, back at the chateau......

Over his productive years, Balzac created the Human Comedy, which like the Chinese scrolls of long ago, shows life in the France of his day in all its detail. Each book making up the whole portrays a particular part of society, its mores, customs, styles, beliefs, and expectations, without failing to provide readers with a great story. Balzac never hesitated to supply us with great descriptions of clothing, architecture, natural beauty, or witty conversation. The present volume is no exception. Though the overall subject is the depth of political intrigue in a rapidly-changing, politically unstable society, you will also find romance and adventure. If too many names---many of actual figures in the French history of the early 1800s---put you in a daze, persist, because this is a great novel with many levels of meaning. A noble woman, in love with twin brothers of the same class who have been exiled, gets involved in a plot to assassinate Napoleon. The intrigue goes way beyond this plot and involves property and class. A loyal employee and his family help the noblewoman. What happens? Who is guilty? Who is a patriot and who a traitor? To what depth did all this go? Is there any dirty police work involved? Does anyone pay the ultimate price? It is a short novel with many sudden twists and turns, secret hideouts, police raids, letters that must be burned and more. If you ever liked Balzac, you'll like this one, though if you have never tried him, perhaps "Père Goriot", "Lost Illusions", "Cousin Bette" or "Eugenie Grandet" would be better places to start.

[Paula Alvarez · Rating 4 out of 5]

¿Os imaginais una trama argumental tan compleja y enrevesada que aun después de haberla leido resulte difícil diferenciar a salvadores y verdugos? Balzac lo consigue sin trampas en este asunto tenebroso, inspirado en un hecho real que vivio durante su infancia.

El escenario de la rebuscada trama, rica en conspiraciones, emboscadas, engaños y maquiavelismos, no podía ser otro que la Francia convulsa que dejó atrás el siglo de las luces para ver cómo se sucedían en apenas unas décadas los más dispares regimenes políticos. La novela cabalga veloz sobre el paso del antiguo régimen a la revolución, de las asambleas al terror jacobino, de la Convención a la república burguesa, del directorio al consulado, del imperio militar a la restauración monárquica, siendo la micro-historia política el actor secundario de un magnífico y terrible relato.

"Un Asunto Tenebroso" es por tanto mucho más que la primera novela policiaca de la historia; con su estilo inconfundible, Balzac maneja el suspense de forma magistral, adelantándonos algunos sorbos del desenlace final sin llegar a revelarlo y sin que la intriga decaiga. Por el contrario, nuestra curiosidad va en aumento, y el escritor nos regala un excelente final con triple salto mortal.

Si dais con esta edición particular, mi consejo es que no leais más allá de los dos primeros párrafos del prólogo, cargado de spoilers: lo mejor es dejarlo para el final.

[Karl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, to be honest, I read this 20 years ago and can not remember a darn thing about it. I'm guessing it was about some sort of business that was murky.

So why list a book I can't remember? Well, I have to have all my books posted somewhere on the web so if I get hit by a bus I will have a cyber legacy beyond a very nice farm in Farmville.

[Georgiana 1792 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Trattandosi di un romanzo che si riferisce a fatti realmente accaduti, con molti personaggi storici, ho trovato un po' ostico seguire la storia del complotto contro Napoleone e poi del rapimento del conte Malin, orchestrato per far ricadere la colpa proprio sui complottisti borbonici che Napoleone aveva perdonato. L'unica figura che mi ha appassionato è stata quella di Laurence de Cinq-Cygne, giovane eroina monarchica che va a trattare con Napoleone in persona sul campo di battaglia per ricevere la grazia per i suoi cugini e del fedele servitore Michon, che viene però usato come capro espiatorio da Napoleone.

[Hamed Mustafić · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very decent and solid novel portraying a history period of a nation that was in much turmoil and confusion. Balzac has described the society in an excellent way and how politics and the police are always there in our lives, harassing and abusing us, no matter if guilty or innocent. Also, even though that part is short, I like the appearance of Napoleon and his strong and domineering character. And would also want to praise the ability of this great author to describe in great detail the surroundings of the characters, the nature, the castles and houses and most importantly, the inner feelings of people.

[Steve Chaput · Rating 3 out of 5]

Balzac's tale of a noble family undermined by a conspiracy to depose Napolean. Once involved in an earlier such plot, the household is easily framed to cover-up the true culprits. Balzac uses both real & fictional characters (some used in other works by the author) in one of his lesser known novels.

It does help to know a little about the French Revolution and the rise of Bonaparte, but Balzac does give enough historic information so that a reader, unfamiliar with the period will still not be completely lost by a very, large cast of characters.

[Bruno · Rating 4 out of 5]

My memory about this work is scarce, but I remember that it was set before ''Father Goriot'' and that the focus was around potential treats towards the future emperor, Napoleon Bonaparte I, by the hand of the allies who supported the previous aristocracy. For me, the most notable was their friend, who was loyal to them and was willing to sacrifice his life to see them safe. The other historical figures, like ministers Fouche and Tallyrand, just put a smile on my face because I always remember the actors who played them perfectly in that awesome mini series (Napoleon from 2002), Gerard de Depardieu and John Malkovich. The fact that they survived few regimes during the years shows how cunning and capable they were to survive, which is the idea of the themes because of the dangerous times that were, back in the day. Even one of the characters from ''Father Goriot'' is present, but that is short and it only happens and the end of the novel, without consequences, although is gives a touch, since it means that it is set in the same universe as the other book and that many characters, unknowingly, mingle with each other. It will definitely need a repeated reading.

[Mauro Barea · Rating 1 out of 5]

Lamentablemente, Balzac no me dejó entrar en esta novela.
Por más que quería hacerme un lugar a codazos en su narración, simplemente no pude. Cada que empezaba a conocer a dos personajes, Balzac sacaba diez más. Y tras esos diez, párrafos y párrafos de Historia pura y dura explicando a esos personajes (dejando de lado a los dos que ya conocía como si nada), datos de otros personajes que no formaban parte del arco principal del argumento, y en fin, un descontrol total que acababa en Napoleón Bonaparte, su corte y sus putas castas. Me dije que por ser Balzac seguiría adelante, pero fue como internarme en un pantano de arenas movedizas y pútridas. Me hundí, y ya está, no se puede avanzar. Eso y mi poca paciencia con novelas de esas características, me ponen de mal, mal humor. Pues a por Papá Goriot, que espero sea como Las ilusiones perdidas y mucho menos parecida a esta.

[Meghan Fidler · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author of the introduction, Mr. Hunt, calls this book a 'mystery.' It is true, the narrative does have somewhat of a "who-done-it?" feel. I believe it would be more accurately described as a novel which depicts the circumstances surrounding political persecution, anti-government activism, and the trials, executions/murders which follow such maneuvers. The text can be a bit boring at times: Balzac relies heavily on his audience knowing the political players he was bringing into this little play, and since I did not, much or the satire, I admit, was missed.

[Armin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zweite Lektüre, der Erstkontakt liegt über 40 Jahre zurück, wusste damals zu wenig über Napoleon, so gut wie nichts über die Comédie Humaine und schon gar nicht über den Stellenwert im Gesamtkonzept. Mit Sicherheit die Inspiration für Stefan Zweigs Fouché, großartig komponiert. aber es gibt überragendere Romane im Zyklus Ausführliche Rezi später

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Did Balzac write anything crummy? I'm not expert enough to know. This is another good one, though you really need a working knowledge of revolutionary and Napoleonic France to follow the plot.

[Roberto Perez · Rating 2 out of 5]

Después de ver este libro en una famosa librería de Valencia a precio muy competitivo, me decidí a darle una oportunidad a Balzac.

Lamentablemente, este libro no es para mí. Tiene cosas curiosas, como ser la precursora de la novela negra o el "true crime" y también es una ventana a una Francia post-Revolución que, al menos yo, no he visto muy explorada en la ficción que he consumido.

Por desgracia, también sufre muchos problemas de ritmo, además de una sinopsis en su contraportada totalmente engañosa; el protagonista que menciona esa sinopsis apenas está en el libro un total de 5 páginas y todos los sucesos se centran en una especie de narración de un complot real que tuvo lugar contra Napoleón poco después de alcanzar la posición de Cónsul.

Probaré con más cosas de Balzac, pero puede que tome tiempo.

[Carla Coelho · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quase todas as obras de Balzac têm a sua origem num facto real extraído da vida particular ou da vida pública que o escritor utiliza como inspiração. Por regra, os próprios protagonistas dos factos não se aperceberam da apropriação, não se tendo gerado qualquer celeuma a tal propósito. Mas não foi isso que sucedeu com Um caso tenebroso, publicado pela primeira vez em 1843.
Os factos em que o escritor se inspirou tiveram lugar no início do século XIX e diziam respeito ao rapto de Clemente de Gris, imputado a quatro jovens da nobreza, membros do partido realista e antagonistas de Napoleão.
Neste livro a figura de Clemente de Gris surge como Malin, auto-intitulado Conde de Gondroville. À semelhança de outros partidários da Revolução Francesa, Malin viu o seu fervor revolucionário ser compensado ao tomar posse de terras outrora propriedade da antiga nobreza francesa, afastada das mesmas e expatriada.
A história narrada por Balzac inicia-se em 1803 e de entre a galeria de personagens há duas que se assumem como principais: Michu e Laurence, condessa de Cinq-Cygne.
Michu é um anti-herói. Balzac pinta-o primeiro como a sociedade o conhece. Gradualmente, vamos penetrando nas motivações da personagem, descobrindo uma personagem tocante no seu sentido de honra e lealdade. Também a personagem da condessa chama à atenção. Nos romances da época não é habitual ver uma heroína feminina retratada desta forma. Embora Balzac não tenha resistido a defini-la como “bela”, atribuiu-lhe qualidades que raramente se encontram nos romancistas deste período como sendo de uma mulher. Laurence de Cinq-Cygnes surge como uma mulher da nobreza orgulhosa das suas origens, com convicções políticas sólidas e com coragem para as fazer valer.
Personagens como Michu e Laurence mostram como Balzac foi um romancista extraordinário, capaz de descrever caracteres admiráveis ou desprezíveis, independentemente do sexo, classe social ou profissão das mesmas. Este livro é apenas mais um exemplo disso mesmo. Um outro aspecto interessante deste livro é o triângulo amoroso existente entre Laurence e os seus dois primos que, embora platónico, não deixa de surpreender, por ser retratado de forma aberta.
Um caso tenebroso oferece ainda uma descrição e crítica do sistema judicial francês da época, rica em detalhes, dando-nos conta de aspectos tão diversos como a realização de perícia, as dificuldades do sistema de júri ou a importância (ou não) das alegações finais.
A tudo isto junta-se a técnica narrativa de Balzac e a sua capacidade de, em plena fuga pela floresta, se deter em considerações como esta “Na altura em que os dois fugitivos ali chegavam, a lua projectava o seu belo luar de prata no cimo das árvores centenárias da cumeada, e brincava nos magníficos tufos das línguas do bosque caprichosamente recortadas pelos caminhos que ali vinham desembocar, uma arredondadas, outras pontiagudas, esta rematada por uma única árvore, aquela por uma pequena mata.” Uma leitura altamente recomendável!

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un thriller à base d’espionnage, d’intrigue, de face cachées, et de rancunes, le tout enrobé d’une sauce à l’Orestie d’Eschyle.

Laurence de Cinq-Cygne est l’Électre royaliste de Balzac. Dévouée à ses deux paires de cousins, dont une paire de jumeaux qui ressemblent en tout à Castor et Pollux, Laurence est une héroïne intrépide qui refuse de plier le genou à l’Empire.

Dans la première partie, Laurence, à l’insu de sa tante et de son oncle, aide ses cousins à revenir dans le pays, avec l’assistance secrète de l’ancien régisseur de son domaine de famille, le soi-disant jacobin Michu. Mais ces derniers doivent affronter la police secrète de Fouché, qui leur envoie son agent (et fils illégitime ?) Corentin pour déjouer le retour des jeunes hommes.

Dans la deuxième partie, Michu, les jumeaux Simeuse, et les frères Hauteserre, sont accusés de l’enlèvement d’un homme politique de l’empire (que Michu avait, en effet, tenté d’assassiner quelques années auparavant). Balzac nous dépeint un procès sous le code Napoléon. Il y a de la posture publique, des scandales, des articles, des opinions qui tournent à droite et à gauche comme des girouettes.

Mais QUI et surtout POURQUOI veut-on faire condamner ce groupe royaliste d’avoir séquestré M. Malin ? Laurence et sa famille sauront-ils déjouer ce mauvais coup ?

Je n’arrivais pas à poser ce livre. Je le lisais, je l’écoutais, je faisais tout pour ne pas perdre de temps, pour ne manquer une minute de ce récit qui nous tient en haleine jusqu’au bout.

Si vous n’avez jamais lu un Balzac mais que vous aimez cette époque de l’histoire de France, je vous conseille vivement ce livre. Et sinon je vous le conseille quand même.

[Phil · Rating 3 out of 5]

(The Human Comedy #13/98)
When I saw that this was a full-length novel, rather than a short story, and not one of his famous ones either, I was a little wary. Balzac has a tendency to be a touch baggy at times. But I needn't have worried, because this is one of his better ones. It involves a plot to steal property rights from the nobles around the time of Napoleon's rise to emperor status and the trials and loves of two local families of the minor-nobility and their servants.

It has plenty of faults, don't get me wrong. I felt lost amongst the assumed-knowledge of French Revolution history, the characterisation of the young male nobles especially is perfunctory (to be polite) and the conclusion is so unsatisfactory in the way it "explains" the mystery behind the central crime that I could have felt justified in removing a further star.

However, unlike many Balzac works the story at least moves at walking pace and he often demonstrates his ability to describe characters in simply a few sentences, for example:

"The first man might have cut off a head with his own hand, but the second was capable of entangling innocence, virtue, and beauty in the nets of calumny and intrigue, and then poisoning them or drowning them."

So, had it had an ending that was more joined up with the rest of the story, I'd have considered giving a higher mark. But certainly an unexpected enjoyment in the Human Comedy.

[Beatriz V. · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Un caso tenebroso” es una novela de espionaje, de trama policíaca y que resalta la visión política de Balzac. A partir de unos hechos históricos: la conspiración de Fouché contra Bonaparte y la historia del paso del Consulado al Imperio, Balzac los interpreta con gran lucidez creando una novela no histórica brillante considerada la primera novela policiaca del mundo.
Este primer acercamiento a la obra de Balzac me ha sorprendido muy gratamente por su narrativa que me ha tenido muy intrigada a lo largo de la novela.
Pero también es cierto que ha habido momentos en que la novela me ha quedado un poco grande y me he dado cuenta que mis conocimientos sobre la época no era tan excelsos como a priori pensaba.

[Ria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Political intrigue abounds in this Balzac story.
Laurence de Cinq Cyne hides her cousins who arrive in France to take part in a plot to overthrow Napoleon but things go badly when the plot is discovered...
Full of historical reference and fact and some characters are based on real life people this is a small part of Balzac's Multi volume collection of works called "The human comedy" so is interlinked with others in the main body of work.

[Cristóbal Mingolla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Episodio de La comedia humana (serie de 85 novelas) ubicado dentro de las Escenas de la vida política en la que Balzac narra un caso histórico real enmarcado en el Consulado de Bonaparte, alrededor del 1800, modificándolo levemente y alternando personajes históricos y ficticios para reflejar el ambiente político y social que se vivía en la Francia postrrevolucionaria y preimperialista.