The Recruit

The Recruit (Le Recrut de 1813) is a short story written by the French novelist Honoré de Balzac. It is part of Balzac's larger work called La Comédie Humaine which is a collection of novels and stories that provide a comprehensive portrayal of French society in the 19th century.The Recruit was published in 1841 and is a part of Balzac's series of stories known as Scenes from Military Life (Scènes de la vie militaire). This particular story is set during the Napoleonic era and focuses on the experiences of a young man named Joseph Schiller who is forcibly recruited into the French army during the mass conscription of 1813.In the story Joseph Schiller is an innocent and naive young man who is torn away from his family and home to serve in the military. He undergoes a transformation as he is exposed to the harsh realities of military life and the brutal discipline of the army. The story explores themes of sacrifice duty and the dehumanizing effects of war and military service.Balzac's The Recruit is notable for its depiction of the psychological and emotional impact of being conscripted into the army during a time of war. It sheds light on the challenges faced by ordinary individuals who were caught up in the tumultuous events of the Napoleonic era. Like many of Balzac's works The Recruit provides a vivid and often poignant portrayal of the human condition and the social and moral dilemmas faced by his characters.