The Black Sheep

Listed by the British newspaper The Guardian as number 12 on a list of the 100 greatest novels of all-time Honore de Balzacs The Black Sheep is another installment in his magnum opus The Human Comedy. Agathe Rouget who is born in Issoudun is sent to be raised by her maternal relatives the Descoings in Paris by her father Doctor Rouget. Agathe has two sons Philippe and Joseph with which the story is principally concerned. Philippe becomes a soldier in Napoleons armies while Joseph becomes an artist. Philippe who is ironically his mothers favorite is a hard drinker with a gambling problem that brings trouble to the family. The differences between the two brothers are brilliantly contrasted by Balzac as their true natures are revealed throughout the course of the work. As in the rest of The Human Comedy Balzac criticizes the value that is placed on wealth and beautifully illustrates the conflict that arises out of the ambition to achieve a place in the aristocratic society of France.