These two short stories serve as my introduction into the literary legacy of Honoré de Balzac, and frankly, it's probably going to stay at that. While both stories were crafted okay, and had a messages of loyalty, I found them rather dull to be honest. It may very well be the translation, I can't be sure, but I was left feeling slightly disappointed.

Little Black Classics #41

The title for the grouping of these Balsac's novels is proper indeed. There was this mix of drama and farce, character study and social critique that entertained as it pained me.

I quite liked the style, and found it easy to read. I shall be attempting Pere Goriot soon, and might add Scenes from a Courtesan's Life to my tbr pile (yeah, it never shrinks *grin*)

The grain of gold dropped by his mother into his heart was beaten thin in the smithy of Parisian society; he had spread it superficially, and it was worn away by the friction of life. Charles was only twenty-one years old. At that age the freshness of youth seems inseparable from candor and sincerity of soul. The voice, the glance, the face itself, seem in harmony with the feelings; and thus it happens that the sternest judge, the most sceptical lawyer, the least complying of usurers, always hesitate to admit decrepitude of heart or the corruption of worldly calculation while the eyes are still bathed in purity and no wrinkles seam the brow.

That paragraph would just as well have fitted in The Picture of Dorian Gray.

I don't know where all these characters will drive the plot to end. I have this sense of doom, but I'm wondering how spread it'll be. I'm refraining from refreshing my knowledge on some history bits so as to not spoil myself.

This cast is savage! I'm having a blast. I did not expect it to be this easy to read

That's some dreary and ominous set up. I'm reminded of Oliver Twist, and Difficult Times; Madame Bovary too.