The Masterpieces of World Fiction series brings together the best-loved short stories by the great masters of the genre—from Chekov and Maupassant, Kipling and Wilde, to O. Henry and Saki and Tolstoy and Conrad. Thoughtfully compiled by the bestselling author Terry O’Brien, this series is a great way for readers to revisit old favourites and for introducing literary masterpieces to newer, younger readers.
French novelist and playwright Honoré de Balzac (20 May 1799-18 August 1850) is celebrated as one of the first practitioners of realism in European literature. Noted for his ambiguous characters and true-to-life narrative settings, Balzac is widely acknowledged to be one of the most reliable chroniclers of the French society of his time. Balzac's characters are never completely black or white but simply human — flawed and nuanced. This collection brings together some of Balzac's most compelling stories; among others, 'The High Constable's Wife', 'Despair in Love', 'The Message', and 'A Man of Business.'