Colonel Chabert by Honoré De Balzac
The novel revolves around the life of a former Napoleonic officer who has been presumed dead for over a decade. He returns to Paris and seeks to reclaim his identity and property from those who have taken advantage of his supposed death. The story explores themes of identity, class, and social status in post-Napoleonic France.
By Honoré De Balzac · First published 1832 · Genre: Realism, Historical Fiction, Drama · 28,927 words
First lines
"HULLO! There is that old Box-coat again!"
This exclamation was made by a lawyer's clerk of the class called in French offices a gutter-jumper -- a messenger in fact -- who at this moment was eating a piece of dry bread with a hearty appetite. He pulled off a morsel of crumb to make into a bullet, and fired it gleefully through the open pane of the window against which he was leaning. The pellet, well aimed, rebounded almost as high as the window, after hitting the hat of a stranger who was crossing the courtyard of a house in the Rue Vivienne, where dwelt Maitre Derville, attorney-at-law.
What this Textopian page supports
Colonel Chabert is listed on Textopian as a novel by Honoré De Balzac, dated 1832 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Honoré De Balzac
- Date: 1832 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Realism, Historical Fiction, Drama, Social Commentary
- Length: 28,927 words
- Structure: 1 section, 533 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Colonel Chabert 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
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Colonel Chabert?
- How does this novel by Honoré De Balzac fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Realism first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- What Was Really The Matter With Andrew by Guy De Maupassant
- Lost Illusions by Honore De Balzac
- A Party by Guy De Maupassant
- Hautot And His Son by Guy De Maupassant
- The New Villa by Anton Chekhov
- Bel Ami by Guy De Maupassant
Genres
- Realism — The book is a quintessential example of 19th-century French realism, focusing on detailed depictions of everyday life and social structures.
- Historical Fiction — Set in post-Napoleonic France, the narrative incorporates historical events and figures, providing a backdrop that influences the characters' lives.
- Drama — The plot revolves around intense personal and legal conflicts, exploring themes of identity, justice, and societal norms.
- Social Commentary — The story critiques the social and legal systems of the time, highlighting issues of class disparity and the impact of bureaucracy.
Tags
French Literature · Realism · Social Commentary · Class Struggle · Identity Crisis · Lost Identity · Rediscovery · Rebirth · Redemption · Moral Ambiguity · Social Satire · Critique of Aristocracy