The Splendor and Misery of Courtesans

Having crossed the threshold of thirty, Balzac embarked on an incredible literary project—reflecting all the features of contemporary French society in his novels. He already knew that he was talented, that writing was his calling, for which he had given... up a legal career that his father, a simple peasant who had profited from buying the lands of aristocrats beheaded by the revolution, insisted upon. His works were already being read with interest; it remained only to bring his intentions to life. Balzac began to work as if cursed, spending 15-16 hours a day at his desk, resulting in several large novels a year. Many of them, like threads in the binding of sheets, were connected by recurring characters. It would be a few more years before the advent of daguerreotypes, and now it seems that the writer wanted to meticulously, like a photojournalist, capture all types of French life on paper, describe all professions, and all the nuances of human relationships. Thus, his great cycle 'The Human Comedy' was born, encompassing more than ninety finished literary works and several dozen unfinished ones. The cycle includes such now-world-renowned novels as 'Gobseck', 'Eugénie Grandet', or 'Father Goriot'... 'The Splendor and Misery of Courtesans' became one of the most famous novels of this epic, dedicated to the Parisian morals of the mid-nineteenth century. Unfortunately, the writer's life was short. When Balzac passed away, he was just over fifty. At his funeral, Hugo sadly remarked: 'All his works constitute one book, a living, brilliant, and profound book, where our terrible, frightening, yet real modernity lives, moves, and acts... the author of this immense and fantastical creation belonged to a powerful breed of revolutionary writers.' The famous novel by Balzac in this edition is adorned with over sixty illustrations by Parisian graphic artist Charles Ward. It came to light almost a quarter of a century after the death of its famous fellow countryman; however, there is some connection between these two artists. Ward was a master of quick sketches. Having started publishing his drawings in French newspapers, he quickly earned a reputation as a talented draftsman who instantly captured poses, emotions, and movement. Then he began work on illustrations for great literature. Ward illustrated 40 volumes of Balzac, leaving behind numerous sketches of the rapidly flowing life. This is evidenced by the titles of his series such as 'New York as I Saw It', 'Berlin as I Saw It', and others like them. 'The Splendor and Misery of Courtesans' is one of the 'Scenes of Life in Paris' from the larger cycle 'The Human Comedy', written by O. de Balzac between 1838 and 1847. The humanist author paints pictures from the life of contemporary French society, drawing attention to the plight of the poorest sectors of the population. The illustrations for the novel were created by the French artist of the 19th century, Charles Ward. His works underscore the social orientation of the piece.