The Project Gutenberg EBook of Repertory Of The Comedie Humaine, Part I, A — K, by Anatole Cerfberr and JulesFrançois ChristopheThis eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it,give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online atwww.gutenberg.orgTitle: Repertory Of The Comedie Humaine, Part I, A — KAuthor: Anatole Cerfberr and Jules François ChristopheTranslator: Joseph Walker McSpaddenRelease Date: January 29, 2006 [EBook #2468]Language: English*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK REPERTORY COMEDIE HUMAINE, A-K ***Produced by Dagny; and Emma DuddingREPERTORY OF THE COMEDIE HUMAINEPART I, A — KTRANSLATOR'S PREFACE"Work crowned by the French Academy" is a significant line borne by the title-page of the original edition of MessieursCerfberr and Christophe's monumental work. The motto indicates the high esteem in which the French authorities holdthis very necessary adjunct to the great Balzacian structure. And even without this word of approval, the intelligent readerneeds but a glance within the pages of the Repertory of the Comedie Humaine to convince him at once of its utility.In brief, the purpose of the Repertory is to give in alphabetical sequence the names of all the characters forming thisBalzacian society, together with the salient points in their lives. It is, of course, well known that Balzac made hischaracters ...
The Project Gutenberg EBook of Repertory Of The Comedie Humaine, Part I, A — K, by Anatole Cerfberr and Jules
François Christophe
This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it,
give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at
www.gutenberg.org
Title: Repertory Of The Comedie Humaine, Part I, A — K
Author: Anatole Cerfberr and Jules François Christophe
Translator: Joseph Walker McSpadden
Release Date: January 29, 2006 [EBook #2468]
Language: English
*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK REPERTORY COMEDIE HUMAINE, A-K ***
Produced by Dagny; and Emma Dudding
REPERTORY OF THE COMEDIE HUMAINE
PART I, A — K
TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE
"Work crowned by the French Academy" is a significant line borne by the title-page of the original edition of Messieurs
Cerfberr and Christophe's monumental work. The motto indicates the high esteem in which the French authorities hold
this very necessary adjunct to the great Balzacian structure. And even without this word of approval, the intelligent reader
needs but a glance within the pages of the Repertory of the Comedie Humaine to convince him at once of its utility.
In brief, the purpose of the Repertory is to give in alphabetical sequence the names of all the characters forming this
Balzacian society, together with the salient points in their lives. It is, of course, well known that Balzac made his
characters appear again and again, thus creating out of his distinct novels a miniature world. To cite a case in point,
Rastignac, who comes as near being the hero of the Comedie as any other single character, makes his first appearance
in Father Goriot, as a student of law; then appearing and disappearing fitfully in a score of principal novels, he is finally
made a minister and peer of France. Without the aid of the Repertory it would be difficult for any save a reader of the
entire Comedie to trace out his career. But here it is arranged in temporal sequence, thus giving us a concrete view of
the man and his relation to this society.
In reading any separate story, when reference is made in passing to a character, the reader will find it helpful and
interesting to turn to the Repertory and find what manner of man it is that is under advisement. A little systematic reading
of this nature will speedily render the reader a "confirmed Balzacian."
A slight confusion may arise in the use of the Repertory on account of the subdivision of titles. This is the fault neither of
Messieurs Cerfberr and Christophe nor of the translator, but of Balzac himself, who was continually changing titles,
dividing and subdividing stories, and revamping and working other changes in his books. Cousin Betty and Cousin
Pons were placed together by him under the general title of Poor Relations. Being separate stories, we have retained
the separate titles. Similarly, the three divisions of Lost Illusions were never published together until 1843—in the first
complete edition of the Comedie; before assuming final shape its parts had received several different titles. In the
present text the editor has deemed it best to retain two of the parts under Lost Illusions, while the third, which presents a
separate Rubempre episode, is given as A Distinguished Provincial at Paris. The three parts of The
Thirteen—Ferragus, The Duchess of Langeais, and The Girl with the Golden Eyes—are given under the general title.
The fourth part of Scenes from a Courtesan's Life, Vautrin's Last Avatar, which until the Edition Definitive had beenpublished separately, is here merged into its final place. But the three parts of The Celibates —Pierrette, The Vicar of
Tours and A Bachelor's Establishment, being detached, are given separately. Other minor instances occur, but should
be readily cleared up by reference to the Indices, also to the General Introduction given elsewhere.
In the preparation of this English text, great care has been exercised to gain accuracy—a quality not found in other
versions now extant. In one or two instances, errors have been discovered in the original French, notably in dates—
probably typographical errors—which have been corrected by means of foot-notes. A few unimportant elisions have
been made for the sake of brevity and coherence. Many difficulties confront the translator in the preparation of material of
this nature, involving names, dates and titles. Opportunities are constantly afforded for error, and the work must
necessarily be painstaking in order to be successful. We desire here to express appreciation for the valuable assistance
of Mr. Norman Hinsdale Pitman.
To Balzac, more than to any other author, a Repertory of characters is applicable; for he it was who not only created an
entire human society, but placed therein a multitude of personages so real, so distinct with vitality, that biographies of
them seem no more than simple justice. We can do no more, then, than follow the advice of Balzac—to quote again from
the original title-page—and "give a parallel to the civil register."
J. WALKER McSPADDEN
INTRODUCTION
Are you a confirmed Balzacian?—to employ a former expression of Gautier in Jeune France on the morrow following the
appearance of that mystic Rabelaisian epic, The Magic Skin. Have you experienced, while reading at school or
clandestinely some stray volume of the Comedie Humaine, a sort of exaltation such as no other book had aroused
hitherto, and few have caused since? Have you dreamed at an age when one plucks in advance all the fruit from the tree
of life —yet in blossom—I repeat, have you dreamed of being a Daniel d'Arthez, and of covering yourself with glory by the
force of your achievements, in order to be requited, some day, for all the sufferings of your poverty-stricken youth, by the
sublime Diane, Duchesse de Maufrigneuse, Princesse de Cadignan?
Or, perchance, being more ambitious and less literary, you have desired to see—like a second Rastignac, the doors of
high society opened to your eager gaze by means of the golden key suspended from Delphine de Nucingen's bracelet?
Romancist, have you sighed for the angelic tenderness of a Henriette de Mortsauf, and realized in your dreams the
innocent emotions excited by culling nosegays, by listening to tales of grief, by furtive hand-clasps on the banks of a
narrow river, blue and placid, in a valley where your friendship flourishes like a fair, delicate lily, the ideal, the chaste
flower?
Misanthrope, have you caressed the chimera, to ward off the dark hours of advancing age, of a friendship equal to that
with which the good Schmucke enveloped even the whims of his poor Pons? Have you appreciated the sovereign power
of secret societies, and deliberated with yourself as to which of your acquaintances would be most worthy to enter The
Thirteen? In your mind's eye has the map of France ever appeared to be divided into as many provinces as the Comedie
Humaine has stories? Has Tours stood for Birotteau, La Gamard, for the formidable Abbe