The Message by Honoré De Balzac
The Message is a novel by Honoré de Balzac, first published in 1831. It is part of his series of novels known as La Comédie Humaine. The novel follows the story of a young man, Eugène de Rastignac, who is determined to make his way in the world. He moves to Paris and quickly finds himself in the midst of a complex web of social and political intrigue. He is soon caught up in a struggle between two powerful families, the de Marsays and the de Nucingens, and must use all his wits to survive. The novel is a study of ambition, power, and the corrupting influence of money. It is also a commentary on the social and political climate of 19th century France. Through the story of Eugène, Balzac paints a vivid picture of the Parisian upper class and their struggles for power and influence.
By Honoré De Balzac · First published 1832 · Genre: Romance, Realism, Historical Fiction · 5,219 words
First lines
I have always longed to tell a simple and true story, which should strike terror into two young lovers, and drive them to take refuge each in the other's heart, as two children cling together at the sight of a snake by a woodside. At the risk of spoiling my story and of being taken for a coxcomb, I state my intention at the outset.
I myself played a part in this almost commonplace tragedy; so if it fails to interest you, the failure will be in part my own fault, in part owing to historical veracity. Plenty of things in real life are superlatively uninteresting; so that it is one-half of art to select from realities those which contain possibilities of poetry.
What this Textopian page supports
The Message is listed on Textopian as a short story by Honoré De Balzac, dated 1832 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Honoré De Balzac
- Date: 1832 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Romance, Realism, Historical Fiction, Drama
- Length: 5,219 words
- Structure: 1 section, 90 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Message by Honoré De Balzac
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- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Message?
- How does this short story by Honoré De Balzac fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Romance first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Madame Firmiani by Honore De Balzac
- The Elixir Of Life by Honore De Balzac
- Gaudissart Ii by Honore De Balzac
- Study Of A Woman by Honore De Balzac
- Facino Cane by Honore De Balzac
- La Grenadiere by Honore De Balzac
Genres
- Romance — The Message is a novel about a young woman's journey to find true love and happiness.
- Realism — Honoré De Balzac's writing style is characterized by its realism, focusing on the everyday lives of his characters.
- Historical Fiction — The Message is set in 19th century France, and the plot and themes are heavily influenced by the historical context.
- Drama — The Message is a dramatic story of love, loss, and redemption.
Tags
French fiction · Novel · Translations into English · canon · chateau · comtesse · count · countess · death · dinner · dramaturgy · dying