Cousin Bette (1888)

Cousin Bette is a novel written by the French author Honore De Balzac, first published in 1888. The story is set in Paris during the mid-19th century and follows the life of the protagonist, Cousin Bette, a poor and unattractive spinster who lives with her wealthy cousin, Baron Hulot. Bette harbors a deep resentment towards her cousin and his family, particularly his wife, Adeline, whom she believes stole the man she loved.As the story unfolds, Bette hatches a complex and manipulative plan to exact revenge on the Hulot family, using her connections and influence to bring about their downfall. Along the way, she enlists the help of a number of unsavory characters, including a corrupt police officer and a young artist who becomes her lover.The novel is a scathing critique of French society during the period, particularly the corrupt and decadent aristocracy. Balzac's vivid descriptions of Parisian life and the characters' inner thoughts and motivations make for a compelling and engrossing read. The novel is also notable for its strong female characters, particularly Bette, who is both a victim and a perpetrator of the society in which she lives.Overall, Cousin Bette is a masterful work of literature that explores themes of jealousy, revenge, and the corrupting influence of power. It remains a classic of French literature and a must-read for anyone interested in the period.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.