Honore de Balzac, His Life and Writings By: Mary F. (Mary Frances) Sandars (1864-)
In "Honore de Balzac, His Life and Writings" by Mary F. Sandars, readers are granted a fascinating insight into the life and works of one of France's greatest literary figures. This biography offers a comprehensive exploration of the trials and triumphs that shaped Honore de Balzac's career. Sandars delves into Balzac's early life, tracing the path that led him to become a celebrated writer. Through meticulous research and attention to detail, the author provides a vivid picture of the societal and cultural backdrop in which Balzac thrived. Readers are transported to 19th century France, where they witness the struggles faced by the aspiring author as he navigated the complexities of a rapidly changing world. The book excels at shedding light on Balzac's creative process, allowing readers to gain a deeper understanding of how his writing evolved. Sandars explores the inspirations behind Balzac's most famous works - from the sprawling masterpiece "La Comedie Humaine" to his lesser-known early works - and reveals the inner workings of his literary genius. The author's analysis of the themes and techniques employed by Balzac adds depth to our appreciation of his artistry. One of the highlights of this biography is its exploration of Balzac's romantic encounters and personal relationships. Sandars presents a balanced account of his complicated love life, offering insights into the women who influenced his work and the turbulent affairs that shaped his writing. This intimate glimpse into Balzac's personal life provides a captivating backdrop to his literary achievements. While the book showcases Sandars' extensive research, it occasionally suffers from dryness in its prose. Some sections may feel overly dense and academic, potentially alienating readers who seek a more accessible approach. Additionally, the wealth of details presented may overwhelm those unfamiliar with Balzac's works, making it difficult to fully appreciate the significance of certain references. Nevertheless, "Honore de Balzac, His Life and Writings" is a valuable resource for both scholars and aficionados of French literature. Sandars' meticulous exploration of the author's life, combined with her insightful analysis of his works, creates a comprehensive portrait of Balzac, his enduring legacy, and the profound impact he had on the literary world. This biography is an essential addition to any literary enthusiast's bookshelf. First Page: First published 1904. HONORE DE BALZAC HIS LIFE AND WRITINGS BY MARY F. SANDARS PREFACE Books about Balzac would fill a fair sized library. Criticisms on his novels abound, and his contemporaries have provided us with several amusing volumes dealing in a humorous spirit with his eccentricities, and conveying the impression that the author of "La Cousine Bette" and "Le Pere Goriot" was nothing more than an amiable buffoon. Nevertheless, by some strange anomaly, there exists no Life of him derived from original sources, incorporating the information available since the appearance of the volume called "Lettres a l'Etrangere." This book, which is the source of much of our present knowledge of Balzac, is a collection of letters written by him from 1833 to 1844 to Madame Hanska, the Polish lady who afterwards became his wife. The letters are exact copies of the originals, having been made by the Vicomte de Spoelberch de Lovenjoul, to whom the autographs belong. It seems curious that no one should yet have made use of this mine of biographical detail. In English we have a Memoir by Miss Wormeley, written at a time when little as known about the great novelist, and a Life by Mr... Continue reading book >>

Honore de Balzac, His Life and Writings By: Mary F. (Mary Frances) Sandars (1864-)

In "Honore de Balzac, His Life and Writings" by Mary F. Sandars, readers are granted a fascinating insight into the life and works of one of France's greatest literary figures. This biography offers a comprehensive exploration of the trials and triumphs that shaped Honore de Balzac's career.

Sandars delves into Balzac's early life, tracing the path that led him to become a celebrated writer. Through meticulous research and attention to detail, the author provides a vivid picture of the societal and cultural backdrop in which Balzac thrived. Readers are transported to 19th century France, where they witness the struggles faced by the aspiring author as he navigated the complexities of a rapidly changing world.

The book excels at shedding light on Balzac's creative process, allowing readers to gain a deeper understanding of how his writing evolved. Sandars explores the inspirations behind Balzac's most famous works - from the sprawling masterpiece "La Comedie Humaine" to his lesser-known early works - and reveals the inner workings of his literary genius. The author's analysis of the themes and techniques employed by Balzac adds depth to our appreciation of his artistry.

One of the highlights of this biography is its exploration of Balzac's romantic encounters and personal relationships. Sandars presents a balanced account of his complicated love life, offering insights into the women who influenced his work and the turbulent affairs that shaped his writing. This intimate glimpse into Balzac's personal life provides a captivating backdrop to his literary achievements.

While the book showcases Sandars' extensive research, it occasionally suffers from dryness in its prose. Some sections may feel overly dense and academic, potentially alienating readers who seek a more accessible approach. Additionally, the wealth of details presented may overwhelm those unfamiliar with Balzac's works, making it difficult to fully appreciate the significance of certain references.

Nevertheless, "Honore de Balzac, His Life and Writings" is a valuable resource for both scholars and aficionados of French literature. Sandars' meticulous exploration of the author's life, combined with her insightful analysis of his works, creates a comprehensive portrait of Balzac, his enduring legacy, and the profound impact he had on the literary world. This biography is an essential addition to any literary enthusiast's bookshelf.

First Page:

First published 1904.

HONORE DE BALZAC HIS LIFE AND WRITINGS

MARY F. SANDARS

PREFACE

Books about Balzac would fill a fair sized library. Criticisms on his novels abound, and his contemporaries have provided us with several amusing volumes dealing in a humorous spirit with his eccentricities, and conveying the impression that the author of "La Cousine Bette" and "Le Pere Goriot" was nothing more than an amiable buffoon.

Nevertheless, by some strange anomaly, there exists no Life of him derived from original sources, incorporating the information available since the appearance of the volume called "Lettres a l'Etrangere." This book, which is the source of much of our present knowledge of Balzac, is a collection of letters written by him from 1833 to 1844 to Madame Hanska, the Polish lady who afterwards became his wife. The letters are exact copies of the originals, having been made by the Vicomte de Spoelberch de Lovenjoul, to whom the autographs belong.

It seems curious that no one should yet have made use of this mine of biographical detail. In English we have a Memoir by Miss Wormeley, written at a time when little as known about the great novelist, and a Life by Mr... Continue reading book >>

Genres for this book
Biography
Literature

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Wikipedia – Mary F. (Mary Frances) Sandars
Wikipedia – Honore de Balzac, His Life and Writings

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