The Elixir of Life
The Elixir of Life is a novel by Honoré de Balzac, first published in 1831. It tells the story of a young man, Eugène de Rastignac, who is determined to make his fortune in Paris. He meets a mysterious old man, the Comte de Gondreville, who offers him a chance to gain wealth and power by drinking a magical elixir. Eugène is tempted, but ultimately decides against it. He instead chooses to pursue his ambitions through hard work and dedication. The novel follows his journey as he navigates the treacherous waters of Parisian society, and ultimately finds success. Along the way, he learns valuable lessons about the power of ambition, the importance of friendship, and the dangers of greed.
By Honoré De Balzac · First published 1830 · Genre: Romance, Fantasy, Adventure · 8,569 words
First lines
One winter evening, in a princely palace at Ferrara, Don Juan Belvidero was giving a banquet to a prince of the house of Este. A banquet in those times was a marvelous spectacle which only royal wealth or the power of a mightly [sic] lord could furnish forth. Seated about a table lit up with perfumed tapers, seven laughter-loving women were interchanging sweet talk. The white marble of the noble works of art about them stood out against the red stucco walls, and made strong contrasts with the rich Turkey carpets. Clad in satin, glittering with gold, and covered with gems less brilliant than their eyes, each told a tale of energetic passions as diverse as their styles of beauty.
What this Textopian page supports
The Elixir of Life 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, Fantasy, Adventure, Mystery, Historical Fiction
- Length: 8,569 words
- Structure: 1 section, 145 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Elixir of Life 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
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Elixir of Life?
- 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
- The Message by Honore De Balzac
- Nisida by Alexandre Dumas
- Facino Cane by Honore De Balzac
- Madame Firmiani by Honore De Balzac
- El Verdugo by Honore De Balzac
- The Inferno by Henri Barbusse
Genres
- Romance — The Elixir of Life is a romantic novel by Honoré De Balzac, which follows the story of a young man who falls in love with a mysterious woman and embarks on a quest to find the elixir of life.
- Fantasy — The Elixir of Life is a fantasy novel by Honoré De Balzac, which follows the story of a young man who embarks on a quest to find the elixir of life, a magical substance that can grant immortality.
- Adventure — The Elixir of Life is an adventure novel by Honoré De Balzac, which follows the story of a young man who embarks on a quest to find the elixir of life, a magical substance that can grant immortality.
- Mystery — The Elixir of Life is a mystery novel by Honoré De Balzac, which follows the story of a young man who embarks on a quest to find the elixir of life, a magical substance that can grant immortality.
Tags
French fiction · Novel · Translations into English · abbot · age · bartolommeo · belvidero · body · cried · day · death · dramaturgy