César Birotteau
'César Birotteau' Summary
César Birotteau, a respected perfumer in Paris, has worked diligently to achieve financial success and social standing. He is a man of good intentions, but his aspirations lead him to make unwise financial decisions. He invests heavily in a speculative venture, hoping to secure his family's future and climb further up the social ladder. However, the venture fails, leaving him bankrupt and facing humiliation. As his world crumbles, Birotteau experiences a crisis of identity and confronts the harsh realities of social mobility and the fickleness of fortune. His loyal wife, Rosalie, remains steadfast in her support, while his daughter, Céleste, navigates the complexities of love and societal expectations. The novel delves into the moral consequences of ambition, the vulnerability of human nature to financial pressures, and the enduring power of family and love in the face of adversity. Birotteau's story is a cautionary tale about the seductive allure of wealth and the potential for ambition to lead to ruin.Book Details
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Honoré de Balzac
France
Honoré de was a French novelist and playwright. The novel sequence La Comédie humaine, which presents a panorama of post-Napoleonic French life, is generally viewed as his magnum opus....
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