Honoré de Balzac (1799–1850) was a prolific French novelist and playwright, considered a founder of literary realism, famous for his massive novel sequence La Comédie humaine (The Human Comedy), a vast panorama of post-Napoleonic French life featuring recurring characters and complex, morally ambiguous figures like those in Le Père Goriot. Despite early business failures, his relentless writing, fueled by ambition and often intense personal struggles, created a detailed, enduring portrait of French society, influencing writers like Flaubert and Dickens. [1, 2, 3]
Key Aspects of Balzac's Life & Work:
- Literary Realism: He meticulously observed and depicted 19th-century French society, giving human qualities to inanimate objects and creating deeply layered characters.
- La Comédie humaine: His magnum opus, a collection of novels and stories intended to portray all facets of French society, including Eugénie Grandet, Lost Illusions, and The Magic Skin.
- Life & Ambition: Born to a modest background, he changed his name to appear aristocratic and pursued various failed ventures (publishing, politics) before succeeding as a writer, often driven by financial pressures.
- Influential Figure: His detailed portrayal of human nature and society significantly impacted subsequent literary movements and writers.
- Personal Struggles: He faced health issues, family strains, and financial difficulties, all reflected in his work, dying shortly after marrying his longtime love, Ewelina Hańska. [1, 2, 3, 4]
In short, Balzac was a literary giant who chronicled the 19th-century French world with unparalleled detail and psychological depth.
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