{"product_id":"cousin-bette-honore-de-balzac-9781025520964","title":"Cousin Bette","description":"\u003cp\u003e\"Cousin Bette\" is a masterful exploration of revenge, jealousy, and social decay within mid-19th-century Parisian society. Written by \u003cb\u003eHonore De Balzac\u003c\/b\u003e as part of his monumental series \"The Human Comedy\", this novel delves into the dark side of human nature through the eyes of its protagonist, Lisbeth \"Bette\" Fischer. An impoverished spinster living in the shadow of her wealthy and successful relatives, Bette harbors a deep-seated resentment that eventually boils over into a calculated plot to destroy the Hulot family.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe narrative follows Bette as she manipulates those around her, forming an alliance with the beautiful but unscrupulous Valérie Marneffe to exploit the moral and financial weaknesses of Baron Hulot. Through its vivid portrayal of ruin and bankruptcy, \"Cousin Bette\" provides a scathing critique of the French bourgeoisie and aristocracy. Balzac's keen eye for detail and his ability to construct complex, psychologically driven characters make this work a cornerstone of literary realism. It remains a powerful study of how obsession and the desire for vengeance can dismantle the foundations of family and status.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you may see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAs a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Honore De Balzac\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 1025520963\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781025520964\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Tradd Street Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 02\/14\/2026\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 576\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 2.15lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.21h x 6.14w x 1.25d","brand":"Honore De Balzac","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":48517188878591,"sku":"9781025520964","price":40.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_fa2573b0-93b0-4f37-8b59-d1e979ef6f69.jpg?v=1778730502","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/cousin-bette-honore-de-balzac-9781025520964","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}