The Ball at Sceaux
This novella revolves around the life of a young woman who has been abandoned by her lover and is now seeking revenge through a series of manipulations at a high-society ball. The story explores themes of love, betrayal, and social class in 19th-century France.
By Honoré De Balzac · First published 1830 · Genre: Romance, Social Commentary, Drama · 25,187 words
First lines
The Comte de Fontaine, head of one of the oldest families in Poitou, had served the Bourbon cause with intelligence and bravery during the war in La Vendee against the Republic. After having escaped all the dangers which threatened the royalist leaders during this stormy period of modern history, he was wont to say in jest, "I am one of the men who gave themselves to be killed on the steps of the throne. " And the pleasantry had some truth in it, as spoken by a man left for dead at the bloody battle of Les Quatre Chemins. Though ruined by confiscation, the staunch Vendeen steadily refused the lucrative posts offered to him by the Emperor Napoleon. Immovable in his aristocratic faith, he had blindly obeyed its precepts when he thought it fitting to choose a companion for life.
What this Textopian page supports
The Ball at Sceaux 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: Romance, Social Commentary, Drama, Realism
- Length: 25,187 words
- Structure: 1 section, 322 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Ball at Sceaux 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 The Ball at Sceaux?
- How does this novel by Honoré De Balzac fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Romance first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Romance — The central plot revolves around romantic pursuits and the complexities of love.
- Social Commentary — The narrative explores social class distinctions and societal expectations.
- Drama — The story is driven by emotional conflicts and dramatic events.
- Realism — The writing style and themes reflect realistic depictions of 19th-century French society.
Tags
French Literature · Realism · Social Commentary · Satire · Novella · 19th Century · Romance · Love Story · Class Struggle · Upper Class · Society Novel · Marriage