| Author |
Balzac, Honoré de, 1799-1850 |
| Translator |
Bell, Clara, 1834-1927 |
| Title |
At the Sign of the Cat and Racket
|
| Note |
Reading ease score: 65.7 (8th & 9th grade). Neither easy nor difficult to read.
|
| Credits |
Produced by John Bickers, and Dagny, and David Widger
|
| Summary |
"At the Sign of the Cat and Racket" by Honoré de Balzac is a novel likely written during the early 19th century. The story introduces us to a vibrant Paris, rich in detail and atmosphere, as it pivots around the lives of a young artist, Théodore de Sommervieux, and a modest shopkeeper's daughter, Augustine Guillaume. The plot delves into themes of love, societal expectations, and the contrasting worlds of art and commerce. The opening portion of the novel paints a vivid picture of its setting, the Rue Saint-Denis, where a young man, clearly of a different class, stands in rapture at the façade of an old shop, "The Cat and Racket." As he observes the shop and the mysterious figures within, including the charming Augustine, who makes a fleeting appearance at the window, we sense an instant attraction that blossoms into a complex love story. The bustling shop scene introduces us to Monsieur Guillaume, the owner, and different characters, including Augustine’s kind but strict family dynamic, revealing the constraints of societal class and duty. Balzac intricately weaves humor and depth into the everyday lives of his characters, hinting at future conflicts in love and ambition as they navigate their interwoven fates. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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| Language |
English |
| LoC Class |
PQ: Language and Literatures: Romance literatures: French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese
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| Subject |
France -- Social life and customs -- 19th century -- Fiction
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| Subject |
French fiction -- Translations into English
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| Category |
Text |
| EBook-No. |
1680 |
| Release Date |
Jun 1, 2004 |
| Most Recently Updated |
Jan 27, 2021 |
| Copyright Status |
Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads |
288 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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