Honore de Balzac | Brief Biography
Honore de Balzac | Brief Biography
Honore de Balzac (1799-1850) was a French novelist and playwright who is regarded as one of the founders of realism in European literature. Born in Tours, France, Balzac was the son of a civil servant and a mother who was a successful businesswoman. He received a mediocre education and showed little aptitude for academic studies. Instead, he demonstrated an early passion for writing, producing his first work at the age of 16.
In 1819, Balzac moved to Paris to pursue a career in writing. Despite several setbacks, including a failed publishing venture and a period of financial hardship, he persevered and eventually established himself as a prolific writer. Throughout his career, he produced more than 90 works of fiction, including novels, novellas, and short stories.
Balzac’s best-known work is “La Comédie Humaine,” a collection of interconnected stories and novels that explores the various facets of French society during the 19th century. Through his writing, Balzac sought to capture the complexity and diversity of human nature and to depict the social, political, and economic realities of his time. He is known for his vivid and accurate portrayals of everyday life, including its customs, habits, and beliefs, and for his astute observations of the human psyche.
One of his key contributions to literature was his development of the “realist” style, which aimed to present a realistic and accurate representation of the world. He believed that the only way to truly understand the world was to observe it closely and to depict it honestly, even if that meant exposing its flaws and shortcomings. Balzac’s realism was characterized by his attention to detail, his use of everyday language, and his vivid descriptions of people, places, and events.
Balzac’s works have been widely read and admired, and have influenced many subsequent writers, including Emile Zola, Marcel Proust, and Gabriel Garcia Marquez. He is considered one of the greatest novelists in the French language and is still widely studied today. 0 0 0.
Sources:
“Honoré de Balzac.” Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., n.d. Web. 11 Feb. 2023.
“Honoré de Balzac.” The Literature Network. Jalic Inc., n.d. Web. 11 Feb. 2023.
“Honoré de Balzac.” The European Graduate School. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Feb. 2023. ***
N.B. The article originally belongs to the book entitled ‘Biographies of Writers Around the World‘ by Menonim Menonimus.
Books of Biography by M. Menonimus:
- The World Writers-Brief Biographies
- Introduction to World Writers
- Introduction to World Personalities
- Love of Reputed Persons
- Brief Biographies of Prominent Bengali Writers
- Brief Biographies of Eminent Monarchs
- Brief Biographies of Ancient Thinkers and Writers
- Brief Biographies of Eminent Generals and Conquerors
- Biographies of Writers Around the World ..
Books of Literary Criticism by M. Menonimus:
- World Short Story Criticism
- World Poetry Criticism
- World Drama Criticism
- World Novel Criticism
- World Essay Criticism
- Indian English Poetry Criticism
- Indian English Poets and Poetry Chief Features
- Emily Dickinson’s Poetry-A Thematic Study
- Walt Whitman’s Poetry-A Thematic Study
- Critical Essays on English Poetry
- Tawfiq al-Hakim’s Novel: Return of the Spirit-An Analytical Study
- Tawfiq al-Hakim’s Novel: ‘Yawmiyyat Naib Fil Arayaf’-An Analytical Study
- Analytical Studies of Some Arabic Short Stories
- A Brief History of Arabic Literature: Pre-Islamic Period (500 AD-622 AD)
- A Brief History of Arabic Literature: Early Islamic Period (622 AD-661 AD)
- Reviews on William Shakespeare’s Works
- Reviews of Charles Dickens’ Works
- Reviews of John Milton’s Literary Works
- Reviews of Some Iconic Travelogues …
Additional Searches:
