The Complete Novelettes of Honore de Balzac

Honore' de Balzac. First edition. NAP. New York: Walter J. Black Co., 1926. Leather bound. Very Good condition. There is some chipping on spine and edges of front/back covers. No writing or markings found in the book, 1005 pp. 

Step into the opulent, scandal-filled world of 19th-century France with this beautifully bound 1926 edition of The Complete Novelettes of Honoré de Balzac. Bound in rich leather with gilt spine titling and decorative detailing, this handsome volume collects many of Balzac’s finest short works, each a vivid portrayal of ambition, love, greed, and the human condition.

This is a single-volume collection spanning 1005 pages and includes some of Balzac’s most enduring short fiction from his larger work La Comédie Humaine. The stories offer a window into French society—from aristocratic salons to the humble backstreets of Paris—where characters rise and fall through a blend of wit, cunning, and fate.

Features:

• Full leather binding with gilt details
• Crisp pages, tight binding, no writing or markings
• Light shelfwear, consistent with age (Very Good condition)
• A timeless collectible for fans of French literature and 19th-century realism

A refined addition to any personal library or literary collector’s shelf.

About the Author

Honoré de Balzac (1799–1850) was a towering figure in French literature and a pioneer of literary realism. Best known for his massive cycle La Comédie Humaine, Balzac wrote over 90 interconnected novels and stories exploring every facet of society—politics, business, love, corruption, and class. His intricate plots, psychological insight, and unflinching realism influenced writers from Dickens and Proust to Henry James.

This Walter J. Black edition is desirable for its leather presentation, compact complete format, and decorative value—especially for vintage literature lovers or those curating a home library with antique flair.