Description
The Human Comedy. Volume X
Book Summary
This tenth volume of The Human Comedy brings together the cycle titled History of the Thirteen, a trilogy composed of three short novels essential to the work of Honoré de Balzac. The reader will find a fascinating portrait of nineteenth-century Parisian society, where love, ambition, and power intertwine around a secret society of thirteen men. The edition, in paperback format and with over 870 pages, offers a deep immersion into the author's romantic realism and social critique, serving as a key piece to understanding the complexity of his literary universe.
What is it about?
The volume is structured into three independent novels connected by the common thread of a secret society: Ferragus, Chief of the Devourers; The Duchess of Langeais; and The Girl with the Golden Eyes. The main plot is articulated around thirteen men united by common interests, a brotherhood that grants them nearly unlimited power over the lives and fortunes of others. Through these stories, Balzac explores the most extreme human passions: from obsessive love and revenge to unbridled ambition and class struggle. The city of Paris becomes one more character, a stage of light and shadow where secrets and conspiracies determine the protagonists' fate. The work, moreover, is inspired by the author's own experience with the secret society Cheval Rouge, to which writers such as Théophile Gautier belonged.
Main Themes
- The power of secret societies and their influence on public and private life.
- Love as a destructive and redemptive force, especially in contexts of social inequality.
- The critique of the nineteenth-century Parisian aristocracy and bourgeoisie.
- Obsession, revenge, and honor as drivers of narrative action.
- The construction of identity through secrecy and the social mask.
Who is it recommended for?
This book is aimed at readers passionate about classic European literature, especially those interested in French realism and Balzac's monumental body of work. It is ideal for those seeking a dense read, rich in psychological nuances and with a complex narrative structure. It is also attractive to scholars of the nineteenth-century novel, lovers of intrigue and secret society plots, and any reader wishing to delve into one of the most emblematic collections of The Human Comedy.
What this book offers
- A deep vision of the functioning of elites and conspiracies in nineteenth-century Paris.
- Three masterful short novels that show the evolution of Balzac's style between 1833 and 1834.
- A reflection on the power of closed groups and the fragility of social ties.
- The opportunity to complete or delve deeper into the reading of The Human Comedy with an autonomous and significant volume.
- A paperback edition that facilitates handling despite its length.
Technical Specifications
- Author: De Balzac, Honoré
- Publisher: Hermida Editores S.L.
- Language: Spanish
- Topic: CLASSIC FICTION
- Collection: EL JARDIN DE EPICURO
- Binding: Paperback
- Publication date: March 2020
- Number of pages: 878
- Weight: 400 g
Editorial Assessment
This tenth volume of The Human Comedy represents a fundamental piece for followers of Balzac and lovers of the classic novel. The History of the Thirteen trilogy stands out for its dramatic intensity and its ability to intertwine social critique with suspense. The Hermida Editores edition, in paperback format, is practical for a work of nearly 900 pages. It is especially recommended for those who are already familiar with the Balzacian universe and wish to complete their collection, as well as for new readers who want to discover one of the darkest and most fascinating facets of the French author.