Cousin Bette (1888)

Cousin Bette is a novel written by Honore de Balzac in 1888. It is a story of love, betrayal, and revenge set in Paris in the mid-19th century. The novel follows the life of Cousin Bette, a single woman who is bitter and resentful towards her family and society. She plots to destroy her cousin Adeline's happiness by manipulating her husband, Baron Hulot, and his mistress, Valerie Marneffe. Along the way, she meets a young artist named Wenceslas Steinbock, who falls in love with her and becomes her unwitting pawn in her schemes. The novel explores themes of jealousy, greed, and the corrupting influence of power. It is considered one of Balzac's most significant works and is a classic of French literature. The book is a complex and intricate study of human nature and the darker aspects of society, and it is a must-read for anyone interested in the history 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.