Product Description

Since 1917 The Modern Library prides itself as The modern Library of the world s Best Books .Its paperback series feature treasured classics, major translations of great works, and rediscoveries of keen literary and historical merit. Featuring introductions by leading writers, stunning translations, scholarly endnotes and reading group guides. Production values emphasize superior quality and readability. Competitive prices, coupled with exciting cover design make these an ideal gift to be cherished by the avid reader. A late masterpiece in Balzac s La Comédie Humaine, Cousin Bette is the story of a Vosges peasant who rebels against her scornful upper-class relatives, skillfully turning their selfish obsessions against them. The novel exemplifies what Henry James described as Balzac s huge, all-compassing, all-desiring, all-devouring love of reality

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #705030 in Books
• Published on: 2002-03-01
• Original language: French
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 496 pages

Review
Raine's translations restore Balzac to his passionate and efficient outrage upon the expectations of fiction. This best of his novels is worthy to be 'ours'--and now it is --Richard Howard

The novel exemplifies what Henry James described as Balzac s huge, all-compassing, all-desiring, all-devouring love of reality --V. S. Pritchett

About the Author
Kathleen Raine, the renowned British translator, poet, critic, and editor, was recently awarded the distinguished title of Comman-deur de l Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French government Francine Prose s most recent novel, Blue Angel, was a 2000 National Book Award finalist. A contributing editor at Harper s magazine, she writes for many publications, including The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal

Customer Reviews

An addictive, thought provoking read.
Balzac at his best. Through his writing you experience a rainbow of undesirable emotions and immoral passions with such insight that you feel tainted by your acquaintance with the characters through the book.Devastating/Funny/Sad/Insightful - anyone familiar and endeared to Balzac will easily be seduced by this book.

most interesting characters with different passions
This is an amazing book for those who are interested in daily life bothers of people with remarkable passions. The interesting figures of the novel:a husband who loves his caring and self-denying wife but cannot resist his passion towards a coldhearted beauty, a cousin who enjoys the pains of her "protecting" relatives and a number of other figures from different spheres of society with varying ambitions. You will enjoy this great book and learn more about not only human nature but also an eventful era in French history.