The Duchesse of Langeais Honore de Balzac Ellen Marriage 9781515348801 Books
Download As PDF : The Duchesse of Langeais Honore de Balzac Ellen Marriage 9781515348801 Books
In a Spanish city on an island in the Mediterranean, there stands a convent of the Order of Barefoot Carmelites, where the rule instituted by St. Theresa is still preserved with all the first rigor of the reformation brought about by that illustrious woman. Extraordinary as this may seem, it is none the less true. Almost every religious house in the Peninsula, or in Europe for that matter, was either destroyed or disorganized by the outbreak of the French Revolution and the Napoleonic wars; but as this island was protected through those times by the English fleet, its wealthy convent and peaceable inhabitants were secure from the general trouble and spoliation.
The Duchesse of Langeais Honore de Balzac Ellen Marriage 9781515348801 Books
I was inspired to return to Balzac after seeing a recently made movie based on this book. The classical story structure is superb: the opening grabs you in more ways than one -- you feel like travelling to the Spanish island, you are drawn to the characters and to their history.In the post-revolution Paris, a wealthy young duchess has a friendly, but detached relationship with her husband. She spends her time socializing and, perhaps, trying to leave her mark. When a famous war hero re-enters the society, he attracts attention, but it is the duchess who manages to brings him out of his solitary shell. He goes to places just to see her. She enjoys the role of a big seductress, but has no intention of engaging in an affair. As the general's friend explains to him - there is nothing in it for her, but much to lose (if the husband gets angry) and so there is no hope of her changing her mind. The general realizes he has been used and plans revenge......
As usual, Balzac is great at bringing to life historic Paris and is a wonderful story-teller. He is very intimate with the reader. But mid-way through, this story falters and gets repetitive. I found the duchess's long monotones, and the dialogues with her lover deadly dull. Maybe something was lost in translation.
The pace picks up again towards the end of the story. But the general's transformation from a devoted lover to a coldhearted man is not convincing. It happens too abruptly after one, or maybe two, warnings from a friend.
Furthermore, one never really feels any sypmpathy for these two star-crossed lovers. Despite their grand rhetoric, they lack passion and chemistry. In the end, one wonders if either of them ever truly loved, or even desired the other.
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The Duchesse of Langeais Honore de Balzac Ellen Marriage 9781515348801 Books Reviews
On the one hand it's one of the best novels about love.
And on the other hand this novel has a delicious taste of mystery with these "thirteen" men...
Read too "Ferragus" and "Golden eyes lady" which make with "The Duchesse de Langeais" the "Thirteen's story" trilogy.
I was inspired to return to Balzac after seeing a recently made movie based on this book. The classical story structure is superb the opening grabs you in more ways than one -- you feel like travelling to the Spanish island, you are drawn to the characters and to their history.
In the post-revolution Paris, a wealthy young duchess has a friendly, but detached relationship with her husband. She spends her time socializing and, perhaps, trying to leave her mark. When a famous war hero re-enters the society, he attracts attention, but it is the duchess who manages to brings him out of his solitary shell. He goes to places just to see her. She enjoys the role of a big seductress, but has no intention of engaging in an affair. As the general's friend explains to him - there is nothing in it for her, but much to lose (if the husband gets angry) and so there is no hope of her changing her mind. The general realizes he has been used and plans revenge......
As usual, Balzac is great at bringing to life historic Paris and is a wonderful story-teller. He is very intimate with the reader. But mid-way through, this story falters and gets repetitive. I found the duchess's long monotones, and the dialogues with her lover deadly dull. Maybe something was lost in translation.
The pace picks up again towards the end of the story. But the general's transformation from a devoted lover to a coldhearted man is not convincing. It happens too abruptly after one, or maybe two, warnings from a friend.
Furthermore, one never really feels any sypmpathy for these two star-crossed lovers. Despite their grand rhetoric, they lack passion and chemistry. In the end, one wonders if either of them ever truly loved, or even desired the other.
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