Balzac: La Cousine Bette

by David Bellos

This up-to-date account of the novel's composition, structure, and achievement provides readers with the literary and historical knowledge needed to make sense of the text. Professor Bellos explains how Balzac challenged prevailing nineteenth-century expectations of what novels should be like.

94 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1981

About the author

David Bellos is the director of the Program in Translation and Intercultural Communication at Princeton University, where he is also a professor of French and comparative literature. He has won many awards for his translations of Georges Perec, Ismail Kadare, and others, including the Man Booker International Translator’s Award. He also received the Prix Goncourt for George Perec: A Life in Words.

Reviews

[Andre Satie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't finish this. I found the characters unpleasant, their plans toward one another more or less despicable, and I just plain got bored.

[John Kohler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un des meilleurs livre de la Comédie Humaine. A lire absolument, surtout pour les amoureux du xIx éme siécle.

[Concha Marcos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Forma parte de la Comedia Humana y nos muestra en todo su esplendor los vicios y costumbres depravadas de la aristocracia francesa en el siglo XIX. Historia y novela se mezclan en un fresco costumbrista que nos deja con la boca abierta.

[Malika · Rating 3 out of 5]

Très difficile comme roman