A Passion in the Desert by Honoré De Balzac
The novel revolves around a French officer who becomes stranded in the desert with a Bedouin woman and her tribe. The story explores themes of survival, cultural clashes, and the complexities of human relationships. Through the officer's experiences, Balzac examines the tensions between European colonialism and Middle Eastern culture.
By Honoré De Balzac · First published 1830 · Genre: Adventure, Psychological Fiction, Romanticism · 6,192 words
First lines
"The whole show is dreadful," she cried coming out of the menagerie of M. Martin. She had just been looking at that daring speculator "working with his hyena," -- to speak in the style of the programme.
"By what means," she continued, "can he have tamed these animals to such a point as to be certain of their affection for -- -- "
What this Textopian page supports
A Passion in the Desert is listed on Textopian as a novella by Honoré De Balzac, dated 1830 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novella
- Author: Honoré De Balzac
- Date: 1830 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Adventure, Psychological Fiction, Romanticism, Philosophical Fiction, Historical Fiction
- Length: 6,192 words
- Structure: 1 section, 88 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A Passion in the Desert by Honoré De Balzac
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Genres
- Adventure — The narrative follows a soldier's survival journey in the desert, encountering danger and unexpected companionship.
- Psychological Fiction — Explores the mental and emotional states of the protagonist as he navigates isolation and forms a bond with a wild animal.
- Romanticism — Emphasizes the beauty and terror of nature, the sublime, and the emotional depth of the human-animal relationship.
- Philosophical Fiction — Reflects on themes of civilization versus nature, human instincts, and existential solitude.
Tags
Historical Fiction · Adventure · Romance · Desert Setting · French Literature · 19th Century Novel · Male Protagonist · War Story · Survival Story · Love Triangle · Cultural Clash · Colonialism