Author Honoré de Balzac booklist (click here)

Book Review By Augusto Wong Campos
Eugenie Grandet by Honoré de Balzac

In the French town of Saumur, respected wine-seller Felix Grandet sees his daughter Eugenie as a source of revenue. Felix possesses a great fortune already, but he knows that, if he gives Eugenie to the right man, he'll earn even more. Two families, the Cruchots and the Des Grassins, dispute this privilege, hoping Eugenie will bring a good dowry to the union, though Felix makes himself look like a modest merchant. One night, Eugenie's cousin Charles arrives from Paris, and she falls in love with him. Charles' family is broke and Felix despises him. Later on we learn that Charles's father -and Felix's brother- has just passed away and he's torn by the event. Charles doesn't love Eugenie but just cares for her, and confides her his secret of amassing the money he needs to travel overseas and retrieve his father's fortune and honor. Eugenie confronts Felix to get the money. Upon his return, many years later, Charles is a different man. He has forgotten the tender relation with Eugenie and is as money-minded as Felix Grandet. They confront each other one last time, and Eugenie realizes she's lost him. Eugenie is left hung out to dry in Saumur forever, taking care of his now mentally ill father and providing charity to his town.
Plot Tone of book? - depressed Time/era of story - 19th century Family, struggle with Yes Struggle with: - Father (or standin) Internal struggle/realization? Yes Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book Love problems? - Obession with uninterested person Main Character Gender - Female Profession/status: Age: - 20's-30's Ethnicity/Nationality How sensitive is this character? - sensitive to others' feelings Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor Intelligence - Average intelligence Physique - healthy but a geeky weakling Main Adversary Identity: - Male Age: - 60's-90's Profession/status: How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a substantial amount How sensitive is this character? Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters Physique - healthy but a geeky weakling Setting How much descriptions of surroundings? - 5 () Europe Yes European country: - France Style Person - mostly 3rd Accounts of torture and death? - no torture/death Amount of dialog - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog