Study of a Woman by Honoré De Balzac
Study of a Woman is a novel by Honoré de Balzac, first published in 1842. It is the story of a young woman, Mme. de Mortsauf, who is married to a wealthy but ill-tempered man. Despite her husband's mistreatment, she remains devoted to him and his children. The novel follows Mme. de Mortsauf as she struggles to maintain her dignity and her marriage in the face of her husband's cruelty. She is also forced to contend with the advances of a young man, Clément de Mortsauf, who is determined to win her affections. The novel is set in the French countryside and is filled with vivid descriptions of the landscape and the people who inhabit it. It is a story of love, loyalty, and the power of the human spirit.
By Honoré De Balzac · First published 1830 · Genre: Realistic Fiction, Romance, Drama · 3,601 words
First lines
The Marquise de Listomere is one of those young women who have been brought up in the spirit of the Restoration. She has principles, she fasts, takes the sacrament, and goes to balls and operas very elegantly dressed; her confessor permits her to combine the mundane with sanctity.
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Study of a Woman is listed on Textopian as a novel 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: Novel
- Author: Honoré De Balzac
- Date: 1830 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Realistic Fiction, Romance, Drama, Historical Fiction
- Length: 3,601 words
- Structure: 1 section, 106 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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- Work identity for Study of a Woman 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 Study of a Woman?
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Similar titles
- Madame Firmiani by Honore De Balzac
- The Message by Honore De Balzac
- The Recruit by Honore De Balzac
- The Marquise De Ganges by Alexandre Dumas
- The Elixir Of Life by Honore De Balzac
- Z Marcas by Honore De Balzac
Genres
- Realistic Fiction — The novel follows the life of a woman, Eugenie Grandet, and her struggles with her father's miserly ways and her own romantic entanglements. This is a classic example of realistic fiction, as it is a story that could have happened in real life.
- Romance — The novel follows the romantic entanglements of Eugenie Grandet, as she is courted by two different men. This is a classic example of a romance novel, as it follows the ups and downs of a romantic relationship.
- Drama — The novel follows the life of Eugenie Grandet and her struggles with her father's miserly ways and her own romantic entanglements. This is a classic example of a drama, as it follows the highs and lows of a character's life.
- Historical Fiction — The novel is set in 19th century France and follows the life of Eugenie Grandet and her struggles with her father's miserly ways and her own romantic entanglements. This is a classic example of historical fiction, as it is set in a specific time period and follows the life of a character in that time period.
Tags
French fiction · Novel · Translations into English · air · caroline · conversation · day · days · distinguished · dramaturgy · essay · eugene