La Peau de Chagrin

To get everything you desire — is it a dream or a curse? Raphael de Valentin is ready to say goodbye to life when fate throws him an unusual talisman — a piece of shagreen leather that can grant any wish. But this gift comes with one condition: each wish diminishes the leather, and along with it, the lifespan of its owner. From now on, wealth, love, luxury, and pleasures take on a frightening meaning. The more Raphael receives, the closer he gets to the inevitable end. Is it possible to renounce desires when life itself becomes their fulfillment? Mysticism, philosophy, and the history of fateful love intertwine in Balzac's novel, transforming a fantastic plot into a poignant exploration of human nature. «Shagreen Skin» is a story about the price of pleasure, insatiability, and the desire to live life to the fullest, without thinking about how much of it is left. The work is presented in the original language without adaptation or shortening.