Parisians in the Country

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Balzac, Honoré de, 1799-1850

Contributor:

Waring, James

Wormeley, Katharine Prescott, 1830-1908

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource : multiple file formats

Place of Publication:

Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg,

Summary:

"Parisians in the Country" by Honoré de Balzac is a novel written in the mid-19th century as part of his grand series "La Comédie Humaine." The book consists of two stories: "The Illustrious Gaudissart," which features a charismatic commercial traveler, and "La Muse du Département," which revolves around the life and challenges of provincial characters. Central to the narrative is Felix Gaudissart, a renowned traveler whose interactions with the rural populace reflect the socio-economic tensions between Parisian ideals and provincial realities. The opening of "Parisians in the Country" introduces readers to Felix Gaudissart, a commercial traveler whose charm and yonder spirit have earned him the title of "Illustrious." Balzac paints a vivid picture of Gaudissart's personality, depicting him as a jolly, clever, and persuasive figure, skilled in the art of salesmanship. This chapter elaborates on the nature of his travels and the societal role of commercial travelers in bridging the gap between provincial towns and the bustling city of Paris. As Gaudissart embarks on a new venture in life insurance, he is depicted as exuberantly ambitious yet faced with the daunting task of connecting with resistant locals, setting the stage for conflicts rooted in class and cultural disparity. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Contents:

The Illustrious Gaudissart

The Muse of the Department.

Credits:

Produced by John Bickers, David Widger, and Dagny

Notes:

Reading ease score: 66.6 (8th & 9th grade). Neither easy nor difficult to read.

Release date is 2005-04-01