Cousin Bette (1888)

Cousin Bette is a novel by the French author Honore De Balzac, first published in 1888. The novel is set in mid-19th century Paris and tells the story of the titular character, Bette Fischer, a poor, unmarried woman who is bitter and envious of her wealthy relatives. Bette is particularly resentful of her cousin Adeline Hulot, who she believes has stolen the love of her life, the successful artist Wenceslas Steinbock. Bette plots to ruin Adeline's marriage to the wealthy and respected Baron Hulot, by exposing his infidelities and causing a scandal. As Bette's schemes unfold, the novel explores themes of jealousy, revenge, and the corrupting influence of wealth and power. Alongside the Hulot family, the novel also features a cast of vividly drawn characters from various social classes, including artists, journalists, and prostitutes. Cousin Bette is known for its realistic portrayal of Parisian society during the mid-19th century and its incisive commentary on the human condition. It is considered one of Balzac's greatest works and a masterpiece of French literature.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.