Dulan Quhua (Illustrated Edition)

Author: (French) Balzac
Publisher:
Publishing Date: Not available
Features: Le Diable amoureux, originally titled Hundred Tales, is a collection of short stories in the style of The Decameron. The author pretends that these are manuscripts preserved in the Duras Monastery, compiled specifically for the amusement of the Gargantuanists. In reality, all the stories are the work of Balzac himself, but they utilize the backdrop and themes of the 14th to 16th centuries, imitating the language and the bold, direct, and vivid style of Rabelais. Balzac was a devotee of Rabelais. In his view, only Rabelais's style could truly embody the spirit and character of the French Gauls, while the dignified and ornate literary style promoted by modern society had completely emasculated the natural cheerfulness and candor of the French. Therefore, while working on the grand project of La Comédie Humaine, he also wrote this series of lighthearted and satirical stories, both for his own amusement and to entertain his readers. Though these are imitations, their remarkable resemblance to the real thing has reached the level of a convincing deception, making them truly rare works of art. The original plan was to write one hundred tales, grouped in sets of ten, totaling ten volumes. Volumes one, two, and three were published in 1832, 1833, and 1837, respectively, but the remaining seven volumes were never completed. Only fragments were found in the author's unfinished manuscripts. The content of Le Diable amoureux often touches on human affairs, love, and romantic relationships. However, beneath the frivolous jokes and vulgar language, it is not devoid of incisive satire and praise for the noble emotions of humanity. Contrary to the creative principles Balzac announced in the preface to La Comédie Humaine, these stories never seem to have been illuminated by the "eternal truths" of "religion and monarchy." As a result, high-ranking clergy and nobles are often the targets of ridicule, mockery, criticism, and exposure, treated with extreme disrespect.