The Jealousies of a Country Town
Description
“The Old Maid” tells the story of three men who are all after the hand of the same wealthy spinster, Mlle. Cormon, in the town of Alençon. The Chevalier de Valois is a member of the ancien régime with a penchant for snuff. Du Bosquier is a former financier who fell on hard times after he was discharged by Napoleon, and whom Mlle. Cormon has already rejected once. Both of these men are in their late fifties, and their interests in the forty-something Mlle. Cormon are financial rather than romantic. The third suitor is Athanese Granson, a young man of twenty-three who has fallen head over heels in love with Mlle. Cormon, a friend of his mother’s. While each of the three are devising ways they can win her hand, her focus is someone else entirely: M. de Troisville, a man looking to settle down in Alençon.
“The Collection of Antiquities” is the name given to the salon of the Marquis d’Escrignon by those have been excluded from it. This includes the aforementioned du Bosquier, whom Balzac inexplicably renames “du Crosier” in this story. The marquis’s son, Victurnien, has been terrifically spoiled by his aunt, the marquis’s sister, who has raised him with her brother after the death of the mother. The profligate Victurnien is repeatedly rescued from ruin by the marquis’s faithful notary. Through his own recklessness and the cunning of a family enemy he eventually ends up in a situation that threatens not only his livelihood, but also that of his entire family.
Read free
This ebook is thought to be free of copyright restrictions in the United States. It may still be under copyright in other countries. If you’re not located in the United States, you must check your local laws to verify that this ebook is free of copyright restrictions in the country you’re located in before accessing, downloading, or using it.
Download for ereaders
-
Compatible epub — All devices and apps except Kindles and Kobos.
-
azw3 — Kindle devices and apps. Also download the Kindle cover thumbnail to see the cover in your Kindle’s library. Despite what you’ve been told, Kindle does not natively support epub. You may also be interested in our Kindle FAQ.
-
kepub — Kobo devices and apps. You may also be interested in our Kobo FAQ.
-
Advanced epub — An advanced format that uses the latest technology not yet fully supported by most ereaders.
Read online
A brief history of this ebook
More details
Sources
Transcriptions
Page scans
Improve this ebook
Anyone can contribute to make a Standard Ebook better for everyone!
To report typos, typography errors, or other corrections, see how to report errors.
If you’re comfortable with technology and want to contribute directly, check out this ebook’s GitHub repository and our contributors section.
You can also donate to Standard Ebooks to help fund continuing improvement of this and other ebooks.