Lost Illusions - Enriched edition

Honoré de Balzac

Publisher: DigiCat

Summary

In "Lost Illusions," Honoré de Balzac masterfully navigates the intricate landscapes of ambition, disillusionment, and the harsh realities of 19th-century France. This seminal work, part of his grand sequence "La Comédie Humaine," is written in a realist style that adeptly intertwines the personal and the societal, reflecting the moral complexities faced by the characters. Balzac uses a rich tapestry of vivid imagery and psychological depth, which brings to life the struggles of aspiring writer Lucien Chardon as he grapples with the seductive allure of Parisian culture and the inevitable shattering of his dreams. The novel reveals the stark contrasts between idealism and realism, poignantly capturing the loss of innocence in a rapidly changing society. Honoré de Balzac, a prolific French novelist, was deeply influenced by the social and political upheavals of his time, including the rise of the bourgeoisie and the concept of capitalism. His acute observations of everyday life and human behavior are rooted in his own experiences of both ambition and failure. Balzac's nuanced understanding of the aspirations and disappointments of his characters echoes through the corridors of his own life, making "Lost Illusions" both a personal and universal exploration of human desire. This novel is a must-read for anyone interested in the complexities of human ambition against the backdrop of societal change. Balzac's narrative intricately weaves a cautionary tale that resonates with contemporary readers, encouraging a reflection on the cost of dreams and the price of success. "Lost Illusions" offers not just a story but a profound commentary on the eternal quest for meaning and fulfillment in a world rife with contradictions.

In this enriched edition, we have carefully created added value for your reading experience:
- A succinct Introduction situates the work's timeless appeal and themes.
- The Synopsis outlines the central plot, highlighting key developments without spoiling critical twists.
- A detailed Historical Context immerses you in the era's events and influences that shaped the writing.
- An Author Biography reveals milestones in the author's life, illuminating the personal insights behind the text.
- A thorough Analysis dissects symbols, motifs, and character arcs to unearth underlying meanings.
- Reflection questions prompt you to engage personally with the work's messages, connecting them to modern life.
- Hand‐picked Memorable Quotes shine a spotlight on moments of literary brilliance.
- Interactive footnotes clarify unusual references, historical allusions, and archaic phrases for an effortless, more informed read.

Available since: 09/15/2022.

Print length: 621 pages.

Other books that might interest you

What Is To Be Our Future?...

Booker T. Washington

Booker Taliaferro Washington (April 5, 1856 - November 14, 1915) was an American educator, author, orator, and adviser to several presidents of the United States. Between 1890 and 1915, Washington was the dominant leader in the African American community and of the contemporary black elite. Washington was from the last generation of black American leaders born into slavery and became the leading voice of the former slaves and their descendants. They were newly oppressed in the South by disenfranchisement and the Jim Crow discriminatory laws enacted in the post-Reconstruction Southern states in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
WHAT IS TO BE OUR FUTURE?: Last Thursday afternoon I received a telegram from a gentleman stopping for a time in a city in Georgia, asking me to come there at once on important business; and being rather curious to know what he wanted of me, I went.

Show book

This is the End

Stella Benson

It is the story of a Family halfheartedly searching for a missing relation who does not want to be found, while just off-stage, World War I is raging on the continent. It is a story about ordinary people trying to live ordinary lives in extraordinary times. The things they do are less important than the ways in which they do them: often comic, occasionally tragic, but always touching and true to life. It reminds us that Poetry and Romance can be found anywhere, hidden beneath the surface of the most commonplace things.

Show book

In Kent With Charles Dickens -...

Thomas Frost

By his own admission, Thomas Frost found it hard to make a living from his writing, and no doubt he used the name of Dickens in the title of this book to boost sales. Frost tells a good tale, and the book is not only of interest to enthusiasts of Dickens and the county of Kent. He includes some of Dickens' own descriptions of locations, as well as regaling us with anecdotes about towns and villages which he visits, including an account of the last armed rising on British soil - the Battle of Bossenden Wood. As well as accounts of his travels through the highways and byways of Kent in the footsteps of Dickens and his characters, he also wanders into the lanes of myth and legend, sometimes making up his own stories along the way. 
 
Charles John Huffam Dickens FRSA was an English writer and social critic. He created some of the world's best-known fictional characters and is regarded by many as the greatest novelist of the Victorian era.

Show book

A Tale of Two Cities

Charles Dickens

Two cities divided. Two lives intertwined. One sacrifice that echoes through history.
Set against the violent rise of the French Revolution, A Tale of Two Cities follows the fates of Charles Darnay and Sydney Carton—two men bound by love for the same woman, and by choices that will test the depths of their humanity. As chaos erupts in Paris and vengeance fills the streets, Dickens weaves a story of courage, redemption, and the power of a single, selfless act.

Praised as "one of the greatest novels ever written," this timeless classic grips readers with its unforgettable characters, emotional intensity, and sweeping historical drama. Its closing moments remain among the most moving in all of literature.

If you crave gripping storytelling, powerful themes, and a novel that lingers in the heart long after the final page, this masterpiece is essential reading.

Open the book today—and witness a story where love rises even in the darkest of times.

Show book

Northanger Abbey

Jane Austen

She loves gothic novels. She expects dark secrets. Reality has other plans.
Young Catherine Morland enters society armed with a lively imagination and a love of thrilling romances. When she visits the mysterious Northanger Abbey, she begins to suspect hidden crimes and shocking secrets—only to discover that real life, with its social missteps and emotional lessons, can be far more surprising. With warmth and wit, Austen turns youthful fantasy into a charming story of self-discovery.

Celebrated as "one of Austen's funniest and most self-aware novels," this delightful classic pokes fun at gothic fiction while celebrating sincerity, kindness, and common sense. Its humor and heart continue to enchant readers everywhere.

If you enjoy clever satire, gentle romance, and stories that smile at their own imagination, this novel is pure Austen joy.

Open the book—and laugh along as expectations meet reality.

Show book

A Responsibility - From their...

Henry Harland

The bookshelves of American literature are incredible collections that have gathered together centuries of very talented authors.  From this continent their fame spread and whilst among their number many are now forgotten or neglected their talents endure.  Among them is Henry Harland.

Show book