History of the Thirteen

Passionate and perceptive the three short novels that make up Balzac's History of the Thirteen are concerned in part with the activities of a rich powerful sinister and unscrupulous secret society in nineteenth-century France. While the deeds of 'The Thirteen' remain frequently in the background however the individual novels are concerned with exploring various forms of desire. A tragic love story Ferragus depicts a marriage destroyed by suspicion revelation and misunderstanding. The Duchess de Langeais explores the anguish that results when a society coquette tries to seduce a heroic ex-soldier while The Girl with the Golden Eyes offers a frank consideration of desire and sexuality. Together these works provide a firm and fascinating foundation for Balzac's many later portrayals of Parisian life in his great novel-cycle <i>The Human Comedy</i>. <p/>For more than seventy years Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1700 titles Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.