Honoré de Balzac (1799-1850) is considered one of the greatest authors of European literature. His novel cycle, The Human Comedy, in which he attempts to characterize and describe French society of the 19th century, unfortunately never reached completion. Nevertheless, his work presents an impressive portrayal of the social customs of that time. Balzac depicts people and social environments in his stories with such precision and a keen analytical mind that he is rightly regarded today as the founder of sociological storytelling. During his twenty-year creative period, he published nearly 100 novels as well as numerous other stories, essays, and dramatic works. Today, these remain one of the most significant literary sources for understanding French Restoration society. This volume contains a selection.