Illusions perdues
A serial novel by Honoré de Balzac about lost illusions.
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Honoré de Balzac authored the serial novel Illusions perdues (known in English as Lost Illusions) from 1837 through 1843.[1] The narrative is divided into three sections: the first set in provincial France, the second in Paris, and the third back in the provinces.[1]
Making and release
The titles of the various constituent parts of Illusions perdues vary considerably from edition to edition.[2] Illusions perdues and its sequel form part of La Comédie humaine, depicting French society from 1815 to 1848.[1] In 1826, Balzac launched a printing venture in Paris that became insolvent two years later, in 1828.[3] On his personal copy of the Furne edition, Balzac wrote the final name for Part III: Les Souffrances de l’inventeur.[2]
Within The Two Poets, the protagonist composes sonnets that were actually penned by Balzac's literary acquaintances, among them Théophile Gautier.[2] The favorable reception of Illusions perdues prompted Balzac to create a subsequent four-part work, Splendeurs et misères des courtisanes.[1]
What the cited sources add
Frederick Lawton's 1910 biography notes that the part-sequel David Séchard reproduces Balzac's life as a printer.[4] Lawton describes the ground floor of the printing office as "a huge room, lighted on the street-side by an old stained-glass window".[4] Lawton records that Balzac spoke of Madame de Berny's kindness and declared he repaid her the last six thousand francs in 1836.[4] A 2021 article by Bouquet states that director Pauline Bayle chose Illusions perdues as one of the cornerstones of La Comédie humaine.[5]
According to Bouquet, the stage production was presented at the Théâtre de la Bastille in March 2020 and later at the Théâtre de l’Atelier in Paris from September 7 to October 6, 2024.[5]
References
- Wikipedia, "Illusions perdues" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Honoré de Balzac, "The Human Comedy: Introductions and Appendix", Project Gutenberg (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Illusions perdues" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Introduction" by Herbert J. Hunt from Penguin Classics edition of Lost Illusions, 1971 (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Illusions perdues" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Frederick Lawton, "Balzac", 1910; "Introduction" by Herbert J. Hunt from Penguin Classics edition of Lost Illusions, 1971 (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
- Frederick Lawton, "Balzac", 1910. facts only, no text reused. en.wikisource.org
- Bouquet, "Illusions perdues: le ring social de Pauline Bayle", sceneweb.fr, September 13, 2021. facts only, no text reused. sceneweb.fr
Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article Illusions perdues (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.
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Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Illusions perdues (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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