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 19th-century French society, unfortunately, was never completed. Nevertheless, his work presents an impressive depiction of the morals of that time. Balzac portrays the people and social environments in his stories so accurately and with such sharp analytical insight 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.