Love in a Mask by Honoré De Balzac

Name: Love in a Mask
Author: Honoré De Balzac

The novel revolves around the theme of love and deception. It tells the story of a young woman who marries an older man for financial security, but soon finds herself torn between her duty to him and her growing feelings for another man. The narrative explores the complexities of relationships, social class, and the masks people wear to conceal their true selves.

By Honoré De Balzac · First published 1839 · Genre: Romance, Drama, Historical Fiction · 12 chapters · 19,913 words

First lines

Midnight was striking, and all Paris was astir; the streets were filled with people bent on merrymaking; it was the eve of _Mardi Gras_ (Shrove Tuesday).

Léon de Préval, a young cavalry officer, had just made his way into the Opera Ball. There, for over an hour, he wandered aimlessly amid the throng that seethed forward and backward, finding no one he knew, and quite failing to grasp the meaning of the stupid greetings flung at him from time to time by the women he passed. Finally, choked with dust, overcome with heat, dizzy with the ceaseless buzz of all these black-robed specters, he asked himself impatiently whether this were indeed pleasure, and turned to find the door.

What this Textopian page supports

Love in a Mask is listed on Textopian as a novel by Honoré De Balzac, dated 1839 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: 1839 CE
Language: English
Genres: Romance, Drama, Historical Fiction, Mystery
Length: 19,913 words
Structure: 12 chapters, 411 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

Good citation fit

Work identity for Love in a Mask 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 Love in a Mask?
How does this novel by Honoré De Balzac fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
Where does Romance first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

Genres

Romance — The central theme revolves around romantic relationships and the complexities of love.
Drama — The narrative is driven by emotional conflicts and dramatic situations.
Historical Fiction — The story is set in a specific historical period, reflecting the social and cultural context of the time.
Mystery — Elements of intrigue and suspense are present, with characters hiding their true identities.