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Honore de Balzac (born May 20, 1799, Tours - died August 18, 1850, Paris) - French writer. His real name was Honore Balzac, the particle “de” meaning belonging to a noble family, he began to use it around 1830.

French writer who recreated complete picture public life of its time. Born May 20, 1799 in Tours; his relatives, peasants by origin, came from southern France (Languedoc). His father changed his original surname Balssa when he arrived in Paris in 1767 and began a long bureaucratic career there, which he continued in Tours from 1798, holding a number of administrative positions. The particle “de” was added to the name by his son Honore in 1830, claiming noble origin. Balzac spent six years (1806-1813) as a boarder at the College of Vendôme, completing his education in Tours and Paris, where the family returned in 1814. After working for three years (1816-1819) as a clerk in a judge's office, he convinced his parents to allow him to try his luck in literature . Between 1819 × 1824 Honoré published (under a pseudonym) half a dozen novels, written under the influence of J. J. Rousseau, W. Scott and “horror novels.” In collaboration with various literary hacks, he published many novels of an overtly commercial nature.

Architecture is an exponent of morals.

Balzac Honore de

In 1822, his relationship with forty-five-year-old Madame de Bernis began (d. 1836). The initially passionate feeling emotionally enriched him; later their relationship became platonic, and Lily in the Valley (Le Lys dans la vallée, 1835-1836) gave a highly ideal picture of this friendship.

An attempt to make a fortune in publishing and printing (1826-1828) involved Balzac in large debts. Turning again to writing, in 1829 he published the novel The Last Shuan (Le dernier Shouan; revised and published in 1834 under the title Les Chouans). This was the first book that was published under his own name, along with a humorous manual for husbands, The Physiology of Marriage (La Physiologie du mariage, 1829), it attracted public attention to the new author. Then the main work of his life began: in 1830 the first Scenes appeared privacy(Scènes de la vie privée), with the undoubted masterpiece The House of the Cat Playing Ball (La Maison du chat qui pelote), in 1831 the first Philosophical Tales and Stories (Contes philosophiques) were published. For several more years, Balzac worked part-time as a freelance journalist, but from 1830 to 1848 his main efforts were devoted to an extensive cycle of novels and stories, known to the world as Human Comedy(La Comedie humaine).

Balzac concluded the agreement to publish the first series of Etudes on Morals (Études de moeurs, 1833-1837) when many volumes (12 in total) were not yet completed or had just begun, since he used to first sell the finished work for publication in periodicals, then release it as a separate book and, finally, included in one or another collection. The sketches consisted of Scenes - private, provincial, Parisian, political, military and village life. Scenes of private life, devoted mainly to youth and its inherent problems, were not tied to specific circumstances and place; but the scenes of provincial, Parisian and village life were played out in a precisely defined environment, which is one of the most characteristic and original features of the Human Comedy.

In addition to the desire to display social history France, Balzac intended to diagnose society and offer drugs to treat its diseases. This goal is clearly felt throughout the cycle, but occupies a central place in the Philosophical Etudes (Études philosophiques), the first collection of which was published between 1835 × 1837. The Etudes on Morals were supposed to present “effects”, and the Philosophical Etudes were to identify “causes”. Balzac's philosophy is a curious combination of scientific materialism, theosophy of E. Swedenborg and other mystics, physiognomy of I. K. Lavater, phrenology of F. J. Gall, magnetism of F. A. Mesmer and occultism. All this was linked, sometimes in a very unconvincing way, with official Catholicism and political conservatism, in support of which Balzac openly spoke out. Two aspects of this philosophy are of particular importance to his work: first, a deep belief in "second sight", a mysterious property that gives its owner the ability to recognize or guess facts or events that he did not witness (Balzac considered himself extremely gifted in this attitude); secondly, based on the views of Mesmer, the concept of thought as a kind of “ethereal substance” or “fluid”. Thought consists of will and feeling, and man projects it into the world, giving it more or less impulse. This is where the idea of the destructive power of thought arises: it contains Vital energy, the accelerated waste of which brings death closer. This clearly illustrates magical symbolism Shagreen leather (La Peau de chagrin, 1831).

The third main section of the cycle was supposed to be Analytical Etudes (Études analytiques), devoted to “principles,” but Balzac never made clear his intentions in this regard; in fact, he completed only two volumes from the series of these Etudes: the half-serious, half-joking Physiology of Marriage and the Minor Troubles of Married Life (Petites misères de la vie conjugale, 1845-1846).

Balzac defined the main contours of his ambitious plan in the fall of 1834 and then consistently filled in the cells of the intended scheme. Allowing himself to be distracted, he wrote, in imitation of Rabelais, a series of funny, albeit obscene, “medieval” stories called Mischievous Stories (Contes drolatiques, 1832-1837), which were not included in the Human Comedy. A title for the ever-expanding cycle was found in 1840 or 1841, and a new edition, first bearing this title, began to appear in 1842. It retained the same principle of division as in the Études 1833-1837, but Balzac added to it a "preface" ", in which he explained his goals. The so-called "definitive edition" of 1869-1876 included Mischievous Stories, Theater (Théâtre) and a number of letters.

Nobility of feelings is not always accompanied by nobility of manners.

Balzac Honore de

It is difficult to find a person as versatile as this writer was. He combined talent, uncontrollable temperament and love of life. In his life, great ideas and achievements were combined with petty ambition. His excellent knowledge of highly specialized areas allowed him to speak boldly and reasonably about many problems in psychology, medicine and anthropology.

The life of any person is the sum of many patterns. The life of Honore de Balzac will be no exception.

Brief biography of Honore de Balzac

The writer's father was Bernard Francois Balssa, born into a poor peasant family. He was born on June 22, 1746 in the village of Nogueire in the Tarn department. There were 11 children in his family, of whom he was the eldest. Bernard Balsse's family predicted a spiritual career for him. However, the young man with extraordinary mind, love of life and activity, did not want to part with the temptations of life, and wearing a cassock was not at all part of his plans. The life credo of this person is health. Bernard Balssa had no doubt that he would live to be a hundred years old; he enjoyed the country air and amused himself with love affairs until his old age. This man was characterized by eccentricity. He became rich thanks to the Great french revolution, selling and buying confiscated lands of nobles. He later became assistant to the mayor of the French city of Tours. Bernard Balssa changed his surname, thinking it was plebeian. In the 1830s, his son Honore would also change his surname by adding the noble particle “de” to it, he would justify this act with the version of his noble origin from the family of Balzac d'Entregues.

At the age of fifty, Balzac's father married a girl from the Salambier family, receiving with her a decent dowry. She was 32 years younger than her fiancé and had a penchant for romance and hysteria. Even after marriage, the writer’s father led a very free lifestyle. Honore's mother was a sensitive and intelligent woman. Despite his penchant for mysticism and resentment at all White light, she, like her husband, did not disdain having affairs on the side. She loved her illegitimate children more than her firstborn Honore. She constantly demanded obedience, complained about non-existent illnesses and grumbled. This poisoned Honore's childhood and affected his behavior, affections and creativity. But a big blow for him was also the execution of his uncle, his father’s brother, for killing a pregnant peasant woman. It was after this shock that the writer changed his last name in the hope of escaping such a relationship. But his belonging to the family of nobles has not yet been proven.

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The writer's childhood. Education

The writer's childhood years were spent outside his parents' home. Before three years old he was looked after by a nurse, and after that he lived in a boarding house. Afterwards he ended up at the Vendôme College of the Oratorian Fathers (he stayed there from 1807 to 1813). The time he spent within the walls of the college is colored with bitterness in the writer’s memory. The writer's severe mental trauma arose in Honore due to the total absence of any freedom, drill and corporal punishment.

The only consolation for Honore at this time is books. The librarian at the École Polytechnique Supérieure, who taught him mathematics, allowed him to use them unlimitedly. For Balzac, reading replaced real life. Due to his immersion in dreams, he often did not hear what was happening in class, for which he was punished.

Honore was once subjected to such punishment as “wooden trousers.” They put him in stocks, which caused him to have a nervous breakdown. After this, the parents returned their son home. He began to wander around like a somnambulist, slowly answering some questions, and it was difficult for him to return to real life.

It is still not clear whether Balzac was treated at this time, but Jean-Baptiste Naccard observed his entire family, including Honore. Later he became not just a family friend, but especially a friend of the writer.

From 1816 to 1819 Honore studied at the Paris School of Law. His father predicted a future for him as a lawyer, but the young man studied without enthusiasm. After graduating educational institution Without obvious success, Balzac began working as a clerk in the office of a Parisian solicitor, but this did not interest him.

Balzac's later life

Honore decided to become a writer. He asked his parents financial assistance for your dream. The family council decided to help their son for 2 years. Honore's mother initially opposed this, but soon she was the first to realize the hopelessness of trying to contradict her son. As a result, Honore began his work. He wrote the drama Cromwell. The work read at the family council was declared worthless. Honoré was denied further financial support.

After this failure, Balzac began a difficult period. He did “day labor” and wrote novels for others. It is still unknown how many such works he created and under whose name he created.

Balzac's writing career began in 1820. Then he publishes action-packed novels under a pseudonym and writes “codes” secular behavior. One of his pseudonyms is Horace de Saint-Aubin.

The writer's anonymity ended in 1829. It was then that he published the novel “The Chouans, or Brittany in 1799.” Works began to be published under his own name.

Balzac had his own rather strict and very peculiar daily routine. The writer went to bed no later than 6-7 pm and got up to work at 1 am. The work lasted until 8 am. After this, Honore went back to bed for an hour and a half, followed by breakfast and coffee. After for desk he stayed until four o'clock in the afternoon. Then the writer took a bath and sat down to work again.

The difference between the writer and his father was that he did not think to live long. Honore treated his fortune with great frivolity own health. He had problems with his teeth, but he did not go to the doctors.

The year 1832 became critical for Balzac. He was already famous. Novels were created that brought him popularity. Publishers are generous and pay advances for works not yet completed. All the more unexpected was the illness that arose in the writer, the origins of which may come from childhood. Honore developed verbal impairments and began to experience auditory and even visual hallucinations. The writer is diagnosed with a symptom of paraphasia (incorrect pronunciation of sounds or replacement of words with ones that are similar in sound and meaning).

Paris began to be filled with rumors about the strange behavior of the writer, about the incoherence of his speech and incomprehensible thoughtfulness. In an attempt to stop this, Balzac goes to Sasha, where he lives with old acquaintances.

Despite his illness, Balzac retained his intellect, thought and consciousness. His illness did not affect the personality itself.

Soon the writer began to feel better, his confidence returned. Balzac returned to Paris. The writer again began to drink huge amounts of coffee, using it as a dope. For four years Balzac was in good physical and mental health.

During a walk on June 26, 1836, the writer felt dizzy, unsteady and unsteady in his gait, and blood rushed to his head. Balzac fell unconscious. The fainting did not last long; the very next day the writer felt only some weakness. After this incident, Balzac often complained of pain in his head.

This fainting was confirmation of hypertension. Throughout the next year, Balza worked with his feet dipped in a bowl of mustard water. Dr. Nakkar gave the writer recommendations that he did not follow.

Having finished his next work, the writer returned to society. He tried to regain lost acquaintances and connections. Biographers say that he made a strange impression, being dressed out of fashion and with unwashed hair. But as soon as he joined the conversation, those around him turned all their gazes to him, ceasing to notice the oddities of his appearance. No one was indifferent to his knowledge, intelligence and talent.

The following years the writer complained of shortness of breath and anxiety. Balzac could hear wheezing in his lungs. In the 40s, the writer suffered from jaundice. After this, he began to experience eyelid twitching and stomach cramps. In 1846 there was a relapse of this disease. Balzac suffered from memory impairment and complications in communication. Forgetting nouns and names of objects has become frequent. Since the late 40s, Balzac suffered from diseases of the internal organs. The writer suffered from Moldavian fever. He was ill for about 2 months, and after recovering, he returned to Paris.

In 1849, cardiac weakness began to increase, and shortness of breath appeared. He began to suffer from bronchitis. Due to hypertension, retinal detachment began. There was a short-term improvement, which again gave way to a worsening of the condition. Cardiac hypertrophy and edema began to develop, and fluid appeared in the abdominal cavity. Soon gangrene and periodic delirium joined everything. He was visited by friends, including Victor Hugo, who left very tragic notes.

The writer died in agony in the arms of his mother. Balzac's death occurred on the night of August 18-19, 1850.

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Writer's personal life

Balzac was very timid and clumsy by nature. And he felt timid even when a pretty young lady approached him. Next door to him lived the de Bernis family, who occupied a higher position. The writer had a passion for Laura de Berni. She was 42 years old and had 9 children, while Balzac had just turned 20. the lady did not immediately surrender to Honore, but was one of his first women. She revealed to him the secrets of a woman’s heart and all the delights of love.

His other Laura was the Duchess d'Abrantes. She appeared in the writer’s life a year after Madame de Bernis. This was an aristocrat unattainable for Balzac, but she too fell before him after 8 months.

Few ladies were able to resist Honore. But such a highly moral woman was found. Her name was Zulma Karro. This was the Versailles friend of his sister Laura de Surville. Honoré felt passion for her, but she felt only maternal tenderness for him. The woman firmly said that they could only be friends.

In 1831, he received an anonymous letter, which turned out to be from the Marquise de Castries, 35 years old. the writer was fascinated by her title. She refused to become the writer's mistress, but was a charming flirt.

On February 28, 1832, he will receive a letter mysteriously signed “Outlander.” It turned out to be sent by Evelina Ganskaya, née Rzhevusskaya. She was young, beautiful, rich and married to an old man. Honore confessed his love to her in the third letter. Their first meeting was in October 1833. After that they separated for 7 years. After meeting Evelina's husband, Balzac began to think about marrying her.

But their marriage took place only in 1850, when the writer was already terminally ill. There were no invitees. Afterwards, the newlyweds arrived in Paris, and on August 19, Honore passed away. The death of the writer was accompanied by the obscenity of his wife. There is a version that in his last hours she was in the arms of Jean Gigou, the artist. But not all biographers believe this. Later Evelina became the wife of this artist.

The work of Honore de Balzac and the most famous works (list)

The first independent novel was "Chouans", published in 1829. He also became famous for his subsequent release, “The Physiology of Marriage.” Next were created:

· 1830 – “Gobsek”;

· 1833 – “Eugenia Grande”;

· 1834 – “Godis-sar”;

· 1835 – “Forgiven Melmoth”;

· 1836 – “Mass of the Atheist”;

· 1837 – “Museum of Antiquities”;

· 1839 – “Pierre Grassou” and many others.

This also includes “Naughty Stories”. The writer gained real fame " Shagreen leather».

Throughout his life, Balzac wrote his main work, a “picture of morals,” called “The Human Comedy.” Its composition:

· “Etudes on Morals” (dedicated to social phenomena);

· “Philosophical Etudes” (play of feelings, their movement and life);

· “Analytical studies” (about morals).

Writer's innovation

Balzac moved away from the personality novel of the historical novel. His desire is to designate the “individualized type.” The central figure of his works is bourgeois society, not the individual. He describes the life of classes, social phenomena, society. The line of works is in the victory of the bourgeoisie over the aristocracy and the weakening of morality.

Quotes by Honoré de Balzac

· “Shagreen Skin”: “He realized what a secret and unforgivable crime he had committed against them: he was escaping the power of mediocrity.”

· “Eugenia Grande”: “True love is gifted with foresight and knows that love causes love.”

· “Chouans”: “To forgive offenses, you need to remember them.”

· “Lily of the Valley”: “People are more likely to forgive a blow received in secret than an insult inflicted publicly.”

Balzac's life was not ordinary, and neither was his mind. The works of this writer have conquered the whole world. And his biography is as interesting as his novels.

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Biography, life story of Honore de Balzac

Honore de Balzac - famous French writer XIX century, one of the creators realistic direction in European literature.

Origin

Honore de Balzac was born on May 20, 1799 in Tours, located near the Loire River. The daughter of a merchant from Paris gave birth to a boy. His father, Bernard Francois, was a simple peasant, but was able to become a fairly rich man thanks to his ability to trade.

Bernard was so successful in buying and then reselling land plots confiscated from nobles during the revolution that he was able to become a popular man. Real name Balsa, for some reason, did not suit Father Honore, and he changed it to Balzac. In addition, by paying officials a certain amount of money, he became the owner of the “de” particle. Since then, he began to be called more nobly, and by the sound of his first and last name he could well pass for a representative of the privileged class. However, in those days in France, many ambitious commoners who had at least some francs in their souls did this.

Bernard believed that without studying law, his son would forever remain the son of a peasant. Only advocacy, in his opinion, could somehow bring the young man closer to the circle of the elite.

Studies

In the period from 1807 to 1813, fulfilling the will of his father, Honore completed a course of study at the College of Vendôme, and in 1816-1819 he learned the basics of science at the Paris School of Law. The young Balzac did not forget about practice, performing the duties of a scribe for a notary.

At that time he firmly decided to devote himself literary creativity. Who knows, his dream could have come true if the father had paid more attention to his son. But the parents did not pay due attention to what young Honore lived and breathed. Father was busy own affairs, and his mother, who was 30 years younger than him, had a frivolous character and often found delight in the chambers of strange men.

It should be noted that the future famous writer I didn’t want to become a lawyer at all, so I studied at these institutions, overcoming myself. Moreover, he amused himself by mocking the teachers. Therefore, it is not surprising that the careless student was repeatedly locked in a punishment cell. At the College of Vendôme, he was generally left to his own devices, because there parents could visit their children only once a year.

CONTINUED BELOW

College is over for 14-year-old Honore serious illness. It is not known why this happened, but the administration of the institution insisted that Balzac immediately go home. The illness lasted for five long years, during which doctors, one and all, gave very disappointing prognoses. It seemed that recovery would never come, but a miracle happened.

In 1816, the family moved to the capital, and here the disease suddenly subsided.

The beginning of a creative journey

Beginning in 1823, young Balzac began to assert himself in literary circles. He published his first novels under fictitious names, and tried to write in the spirit of extreme romanticism. Such conditions were dictated by the fashion that prevailed in France at that time. Over time, Honore was skeptical about his attempts at writing. So much so that in the future I tried not to think about them at all.

In 1825, he tried not to write books, but to print them. Attempts with varying success lasted for three years, after which Balzac became completely disillusioned with the publishing business.

Writing craft

Honoré returned to creativity again, finishing work on historical novel"Chouans". By that time, the aspiring writer had such confidence in his abilities that he signed the work with his real name. Then everything went very smoothly, “Scenes of Private Life”, “Elixir of Longevity”, “Gobsek”, “Shagreen Skin” appeared. The last of these works is a philosophical novel.

Balzac worked from last bit of strength, spending 15 hours a day at a desk. The writer was forced to write to the limit of his capabilities, because he owed creditors a large sum money.

Honore needed considerable finances for various dubious enterprises. At first, cherishing the hope of buying a silver mine at a reasonable price, he rushed to Sardinia. Then he acquired a spacious estate in rural areas, the contents of which took a toll on the owner’s pockets. Finally, he founded a couple of periodicals, the release of which was not commercially successful.

However, such hard work brought him good dividends in the form of fame. Balzac published several books every year. Not every colleague could boast of such a result.

At the time when Balzac loudly declared himself in French literature(late 1820s), the direction of romanticism blossomed wildly. Many writers created the image of an adventurous or lonely hero. However, Balzac sought to move away from describing heroic individuals and focus on bourgeois society as a whole, which was the France of the July Monarchy. The writer depicted the life of representatives of almost all strata, from village workers and merchants to priests and aristocrats.

Marriage

Balzac visited Russia several times, in particular St. Petersburg. During one of his visits, fate brought him together with Evelina Ganskaya. The Countess belonged to a noble Polish family. A romance began, which ended in a wedding. The solemn event took place in the Church of St. Barbara in the city of Berdichev early in the morning, without outsiders.

Balzac's beloved had an estate in Verkhovna, a village located in Ukraine in the Zhitomir region. The couple settled there. Their love lasted almost 20 years, at the same time Balzac and Ganskaya often managed to live separately and not see each other for several years.

Balzac's hobbies

Previously, Balzac, despite his shy nature, awkward behavior and rather short stature, had many women. All of them could not resist Honore's energetic pressure. Partners young man It was mostly ladies who were much older than him.

As an example, we can recall the history of his relationship with 42-year-old Laura de Berni, who raised nine children. Balzac was 22 years younger, however, this did not stop him from achieving a mature woman. And this can be understood, because in this way he tried, albeit with great delay, to receive the portion of maternal affection due to each child. Those that he was deprived of as a child.

Death of a Writer

IN last years Throughout his life, the writer was often sick. Apparently, a disdainful attitude towards one’s own body made itself felt. Balzac never sought to lead healthy image life.

Your last earthly refuge famous writer found at the famous Parisian cemetery Père Lachaise. Death occurred on August 18, 1850.

French literature

Honore de Balzac

Biography

BALZAC, HONORE (Balzac, Honor de) (1799−1850), French writer who recreated a holistic picture of the social life of his time. Born May 20, 1799 in Tours; his relatives, peasants by origin, came from southern France (Languedoc). His father changed his original surname Balssa when he arrived in Paris in 1767 and began a long bureaucratic career there, which he continued in Tours from 1798, holding a number of administrative positions. The particle “de” was added to the name by his son Honore in 1830, claiming noble origin. Balzac spent six years (1806−1813) as a boarder at the College of Vendôme, completing his education in Tours and Paris, where the family returned in 1814. After working for three years (1816−1819) as a clerk in a judge's office, he convinced his parents to allow him to try his luck in literature . Between 1819 and 1824 Honoré published (under a pseudonym) half a dozen novels, written under the influence of J. J. Rousseau, W. Scott and “horror novels.” In collaboration with various literary hacks, he published many novels of an overtly commercial nature.

In 1822, his relationship with forty-five-year-old Madame de Bernis began (d. 1836). The initially passionate feeling emotionally enriched him; later their relationship became platonic, and Lily in the Valley (Le Lys dans la valle, 1835−1836) gave a highly ideal picture of this friendship.

An attempt to make a fortune in publishing and printing (1826−1828) involved Balzac in large debts. Turning again to writing, in 1829 he published the novel The Last Shuan (Le dernier Shouan; revised and published in 1834 under the title Les Chouans). This was the first book to be published under his own name, along with a humorous manual for husbands, The Physiology of Marriage (La Physiologie du mariage, 1829), it attracted public attention to the new author. At the same time, the main work of his life began: in 1830 the first Scenes of Private Life (Scnes de la vie prive) appeared, with the undoubted masterpiece The House of a Cat Playing Ball (La Maison du chat qui pelote), in 1831 the first Philosophical Tales and Stories were published ( Contes philosophiques). For several more years, Balzac worked as a freelance journalist, but from 1830 to 1848 his main efforts were devoted to an extensive cycle of novels and stories known to the world as La Comdie humaine.

Balzac concluded the agreement to publish the first series of Etudes on Morals (tudes de moeurs, 1833−1837) when many volumes (12 in total) were not yet completed or had just begun, since he used to first sell the finished work for publication in periodicals, then release it as a separate book and, finally, included in one or another collection. The sketches consisted of Scenes - private, provincial, Parisian, political, military and village life. Scenes of private life, devoted mainly to youth and its inherent problems, were not tied to specific circumstances and place; but the scenes of provincial, Parisian and village life were played out in a precisely defined environment, which is one of the most characteristic and original features of the Human Comedy.

In addition to his desire to depict the social history of France, Balzac intended to diagnose society and offer remedies to treat its ills. This goal is clearly felt throughout the cycle, but occupies a central place in the Philosophical Studies (tudes philosophiques), the first collection of which was published between 1835 and 1837. The Studies on Morals were supposed to present “effects”, and the Philosophical Studies were to identify “causes”. Balzac's philosophy is a curious combination of scientific materialism, theosophy of E. Swedenborg and other mystics, physiognomy of I. C. Lavater, phrenology of F. J. Gall, magnetism of F. A. Mesmer and occultism. All this was combined, sometimes in a very unconvincing way, with official Catholicism and political conservatism, in support of which Balzac openly spoke out. Two aspects of this philosophy are of particular importance to his work: first, a deep belief in "second sight", a mysterious property that gives its owner the ability to recognize or guess facts or events that he did not witness (Balzac considered himself extremely gifted in this attitude); secondly, based on the views of Mesmer, the concept of thought as a kind of “ethereal substance” or “fluid”. Thought consists of will and feeling, and a person projects it into the world around him, giving it more or less impulse. This gives rise to the idea of the destructive power of thought: it contains vital energy, the accelerated waste of which brings death closer. This is clearly illustrated by the magical symbolism of Shagreen Skin (La Peau de chagrin, 1831).

The third main section of the cycle was supposed to be Analytical Etudes (tudes analytiques), dedicated to “principles,” but Balzac never made clear his intentions in this regard; in fact, he completed only two volumes from the series of these Etudes: the half-serious, half-joking Physiology of Marriage and the Minor Troubles of Married Life (Petites misres de la vie conjugale, 1845−1846).

Balzac defined the main contours of his ambitious plan in the fall of 1834 and then consistently filled in the cells of the intended scheme. Allowing himself to be distracted, he wrote, in imitation of Rabelais, a series of funny, albeit obscene, “medieval” stories called Mischievous Stories (Contes drolatiques, 1832−1837), which were not included in the Human Comedy. A title for the ever-expanding cycle was found in 1840 or 1841, and a new edition, first bearing this title, began to appear in 1842. It retained the same principle of division as in the Études 1833−1837, but Balzac added to it a “preface ", in which he explained his goals. The so-called “definitive edition” of 1869−1876 included Mischievous Stories, Theater (Thtre) and a number of letters.

There is no consensus in criticism as to how accurately the writer managed to portray the French aristocracy, although he himself was proud of his knowledge of the world. Having little interest in artisans and factory workers, he achieved the highest, by all accounts, persuasiveness in describing various representatives of the middle class: office workers - Officials (Les Employs), judicial clerks and lawyers - The Case of Guardianship (L "Interdiction, 1836), Colonel Chabet (Le Colonel Chabert, 1832); financiers - The banking house of Nucingen (La Maison Nucingen, 1838); journalists - Lost illusions (Illusions perdues, 1837−1843); small manufacturers and traders - The story of the greatness and fall of Caesar Birotteau (Histoire de la grandeur). et decadence de Csar Birotteau, 1837). Among the Scenes of private life dedicated to feelings and passions, the Abandoned Woman (La Femme abandonne), The Thirty-Year-Old Woman (La Femme de trente ans, 1831−1834), The Daughter of Eve (Une Fille d've) stand out. , 1838). Scenes of Provincial Life not only recreate the atmosphere of small towns, but also depict the painful “storms in a glass of water” that disrupt the peaceful flow of everyday life - The Priest of Tours (Le Cur de Tours, 1832), Eugnie Grandet (Eugnie Grandet, 1833), Pierrette (1840). The novels Ursule Mirout and La Rabouilleuse (1841−1842) depict violent family feuds over inheritance. But the human community appears even darker in Scenes of Parisian Life. Balzac loved Paris and did a lot to preserve the memory of the now forgotten streets and corners of the French capital. At the same time, he considered this city a hellish abyss and compared the “struggle for life” taking place here with wars on the prairies, as one of his favorite authors, F. Cooper, depicted them in his novels. The most interesting of the Scenes of Political Life is the Dark Affair (Une Tnbreuse Affaire, 1841), where the figure of Napoleon appears for a moment. Scenes of military life (Scnes de la vie militaire) include only two works: the novel by Chouan and the story Passion in the Desert (Une Passion dans le dsert, 1830) - Balzac intended to significantly supplement them. Scenes of village life (Scnes de la vie de campagne) are generally devoted to the description of the dark and predatory peasantry, although in such novels as the Country Doctor (Le Mdecin de campagne, 1833) and the Country Priest (Le Cur de village, 1839), a significant place devoted to the presentation of political, economic and religious views. Balzac was the first great writer to pay close attention to the material background and "look" of his characters; before him, no one had portrayed acquisitiveness and ruthless careerism as the main motivations in life. The plots of his novels are often based on financial intrigue and speculation. He also became famous for his “cross-cutting characters”: a person who played a leading role in one of the novels then appears in others, revealing a new side and in different circumstances. It is also noteworthy that, in developing his theory of thought, he inhabits his art world people who are overcome by an obsession or passion. Among them is a moneylender in Gobseck (Gobseck, 1830), a mad artist in the Unknown Masterpiece (Le Chef-d'oeuvre inconnu, 1831, new ed. 1837), a miser in Eugenie Grande, a maniacal chemist in The Quest for the Absolute (La Recherche de l'absolu, 1834), an old man blinded by love for his daughters in Père Goriot (Le Pre Goriot, 1834−1835), a vengeful old maid and an incorrigible womanizer in Cousine Bette (La Cousine Bette, 1846), an inveterate criminal in Father Goriot and The Splendor and Poverty of the Courtesans (Splendeurs et misres des courtisanes, 1838−1847). This tendency, along with a penchant for the occult and horror, calls into question the view of the Human Comedy as highest achievement realism in prose. However, the perfection of narrative technique, mastery of descriptions, taste for dramatic intrigue, interest in the smallest details everyday life, a sophisticated analysis of emotional experiences, including love (the novel The Golden-Eyed Girl - La Fille aux yeux d’or was an innovative study of perverted attraction), as well as the strongest illusion of a recreated reality give him the right to be called “father modern novel" Balzac's closest successors in France were G. Flaubert (with all the severity of his critical assessments), E. Zola and the naturalists, M. Proust, as well as modern authors novel cycles, undoubtedly, learned a lot from him. Its influence was felt later, already in the twentieth century, when the classic novel began to be considered an outdated form. The totality of almost a hundred titles of the Human Comedy testifies to the amazing versatility of this prolific genius, who anticipated almost all of the subsequent discoveries. Balzac worked tirelessly, he was famous for using the next proof to radically revise the composition and significant changes text. At the same time, he paid tribute to entertainment in the Rabelaisian spirit, willingly paid visits to high-society acquaintances, traveled abroad and was far from alien to love interests, among which his relationship with the Polish countess and wife of a Ukrainian landowner Evelina Ganskaya stands out. Thanks to these relationships, which began in 1832 or 1833, an invaluable collection of Balzac's letters addressed to Ghanskaya was born, Letters to a Stranger (Lettres l'trangre, vols. 1−2 publ. 1899−1906; vols. 3−4 publ. 1933−1950) and Correspondence (Correspondance, publ. 1951) with Zulma Karro, whose friendship the writer carried throughout his life. Ganskaya promised to marry him after her husband’s death. This happened in 1841, but then complications arose. Overwork from colossal work, Ganskaya's indecisiveness and the first signs of a serious illness overshadowed Balzac's last years, and when the wedding finally took place in March 1850, he had only five months to live. Balzac died in Paris on August 18, 1850.

Balzac Honoré was born into a peasant family in 1799 in southern France. His father changed his surname Balzas to Balzac in 1767, when he began his work as an official in Paris, which he continued after moving to Tula. Already in 1830, the prefix “de” was added to the surname. From 1806, Balzac studied at the College of Vendôme for 6 years. He completed his studies in Paris and Tula.

From 1816 he worked in a judge's office as a clerk, but three years later he managed to convince his parents and try his hand at literary activity. Over the course of 5 years, working under a pseudonym, he creates 6 novels that inspired him works by J-J Rousseau and V. Scot. In addition, Balzac releases a large number of commercial novels. In 1822 he meets Madame de Bernis, who was twice the writer's age. Their passionate relationship soon turned platonic. In 1836, after her death, in memory of their feelings, Balzac painted Lily in the Valley.

Since 1826, he tried to get rich in the publishing and printing business, but his plans did not come true and the writer found himself in huge debts.

Balzac tried to write again, and in 1829 the first book under his name was published. The first works attracted the interest of readers. From that moment on, all books with his name on the cover are successful, he enters into contracts with publishing houses, sometimes even for works that are not yet completed.

Balzac strives to describe the social history of his country, point out to readers the ills of society and ways to cure it.

Balzac works day and night, creating more and more new creations. But work does not interfere with his love interests. Balzac's new lover was a married woman, the Polish Countess Evelina Ganskaya. They were dedicated to her lovely Letters to a stranger. The Countess assured that immediately after the death of her husband, a Ukrainian landowner, they would be together. In 1841 this day came.

After some time, Balzac became seriously ill. His fatigue and his beloved’s indecisiveness only worsened the writer’s condition. Only in 1850 Ganskaya and Balzac were united in marriage. The writer lived five months of marriage with his beloved, and on August 18 of the same year, Ganskaya became a widow for the second time.

Works

Shagreen leather

Balzac Honore de (1799 – 1850)
French writer. Born into a family of peasants from Languedoc.

Waltz's original surname was changed by his father, starting his career as an official. The particle “de” was added to the name by the son, claiming noble origin.

Between 1819 and 1824 Balzac published half a dozen novels under a pseudonym.

The publishing and printing business involved him in large debts. For the first time, under his own name, he published the novel “The Last Shuat.”

Period from 1830 to 1848 dedicated to an extensive series of novels and stories known to the reading public as the “Human Comedy.” Balzac devoted all his energy to creativity, but he also loved social life with its amusements and travels.

Overwork from colossal work, problems in his personal life and the first signs of a serious illness overshadowed the last years of the writer’s life. Five months before his death, he married Evelina Ganskaya, whose consent to the marriage Balzac had to wait for many years.

His most famous works- “Shagreen skin”, “Gobsek”, “ An unknown masterpiece", "Eugenia Grande", "The Banker's House of Nucingen", "The Peasants", "Cousin Pono", etc.

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Balzac and his novels. Balzac, Honore de – short biography. The writer's childhood. Education