La Peau de Chagrin

To get everything you desire — is it a dream or a curse? Raphaël de Valentin is already ready to say goodbye to life when fate throws him an unusual talisman — a piece of shagreen leather capable of granting any wish. But this gift has 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 Raphaël 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 converge in Balzac's novel, transforming a fantastic plot into a poignant exploration of human nature. «Shagreen Leather» 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.