The Message by Honoré de Balzac

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About this eBook

Author Balzac, Honoré de, 1799-1850
Translator Marriage, Ellen, 1865-1946
Title The Message
Note Reading ease score: 74.6 (7th grade). Fairly easy to read.
Note Wikipedia page about this book: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_Message
Credits Produced by Dagny, and David Widger
Summary "The Message" by Honoré de Balzac is a poignant short story written during the early 19th century. This narrative explores themes of love, loss, and the human experience through the lens of a tragic event. It tells the tale of two young men who bond over their experiences and feelings for older women, only for one of them to meet a fatal accident, setting off a series of emotional events. The story begins with a young traveler sharing a carriage ride with another man, quickly forming a camaraderie centered around their admiration for older romantic interests. Unfortunately, a tragic accident occurs, resulting in the death of the young man, who entrusts the narrator with a heartbreaking final mission: to deliver his love letters to his mistress, Juliette. As the narrator embarks on this journey, he grapples with the weight of the news he must deliver to Juliette, who is blissfully unaware of her lover's fate. Upon arriving at her chateau, the narrator witnesses the striking contrast between Juliette's beauty and her husband's mundane presence. Ultimately, the tale masterfully delves into the intricacies of love and grief, illustrating how deeply intertwined they can be, as the tragic message unfolds against the backdrop of societal norms and personal relationships. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
Language English
LoC Class PQ: Language and Literatures: Romance literatures: French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese
Subject French fiction -- Translations into English
Category Text
EBook-No. 1189
Release Date
Most Recently Updated Apr 4, 2013
Copyright Status Public domain in the USA.
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