Lucien is young, talented, and comes from the provinces. In the big city of Paris, the idealist falls into many traps, and the protection from his hometown, along with his talent for poetry, does not help him advance. It is only at the newspaper that he gains recognition through new connections. However, success and money make him reckless, and he becomes entangled in intrigues. One of the most beautiful novels by the great realist from France: Balzac's unflinching gaze at the deceitful behavior of people is a magnificent satire, and the variations of human comedy are still relevant today. The new translation by Melanie Walz strikes an elegant tone for this classic of world literature.