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