Facino Cane by Honoré De Balzac
Facino Cane is a novel by Honoré de Balzac, first published in 1835. It is part of his series of novels known as La Comédie Humaine. The novel follows the story of Facino Cane, a wealthy Italian banker and nobleman. He is a man of great power and influence, but his life is not without its troubles. He is in love with a beautiful woman, but she is married to another man. He is also in a bitter rivalry with a rival banker, and his business dealings are constantly threatened by his enemies. The novel follows Facino's struggles to maintain his power and influence, as well as his attempts to win the heart of the woman he loves. Along the way, he must also contend with the machinations of his enemies, as well as his own inner demons. The novel is a classic example of Balzac's writing style, with its intricate plot and complex characters. It is a story of love, power, and ambition, and is a must-read for fans of Balzac's work.
By Honoré De Balzac · First published 1836 · Genre: Realistic Fiction, Romance, Historical Fiction · 5,580 words
First lines
I once used to live in a little street which probably is not known to you -- the Rue de Lesdiguieres. It is a turning out of the Rue Saint-Antoine, beginning just opposite a fountain near the Place de la Bastille, and ending in the Rue de la Cerisaie. Love of knowledge stranded me in a garret; my nights I spent in work, my days in reading at the Bibliotheque d'Orleans, close by. I lived frugally; I had accepted the conditions of the monastic life, necessary conditions for every worker, scarcely permitting myself a walk along the Boulevard Bourdon when the weather was fine. One passion only had power to draw me from my studies; and yet, what was that passion but a study of another kind? I used to watch the manners and customs of the Faubourg, its inhabitants, and their characteristics. As I dressed no better than a working man, and cared nothing for appearances, I did not put them on their guard; I could join a group and look on while they drove bargains or wrangled among themselves on their way home from work. Even then observation had come to be an instinct with me; a faculty of penetrating to the soul without neglecting the body; or rather, a power of grasping external details so thoroughly that they never detained me for a moment, and at once I passed beyond and through them. I could enter into the life of the human creatures whom I watched, just as the dervish in the "Arabian Nights" could pass into any soul or body after pronouncing a certain formula.
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Facino Cane is listed on Textopian as a novella by Honoré De Balzac, dated 1836 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: 1836 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Realistic Fiction, Romance, Historical Fiction, Drama
- Length: 5,580 words
- Structure: 1 section, 81 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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- Work identity for Facino Cane by Honoré De Balzac
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Facino Cane?
- How does this novella by Honoré De Balzac fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Realistic Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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Genres
- Realistic Fiction — The novel is set in 19th century France and follows the life of a young man, Facino Cane, as he navigates the social and political landscape of the time.
- Romance — The novel follows Facino's romantic relationships with two women, and his struggles to choose between them.
- Historical Fiction — The novel is set in 19th century France and includes references to historical events and figures of the time.
- Drama — The novel follows Facino's life as he navigates the social and political landscape of the time, and includes dramatic moments of conflict and resolution.
Tags
French fiction · Novel · Translations into English · asylum · bianca · blind · boulevard · cane · cell · city · clarionet · days