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CyberRead carries over 40,000 of your favorite books from both major and independent publishers for your PDA and PC Book Categories Search Books Get Reader Software My Account ... Customer Support All Formats Mobipocket Microsoft Reader Adobe Acrobat PDF Microsoft Word Product Details All Categories Balzac Mobipocket Reader (455.00 Kb)
Price: Author: Lawton, Frederick Publisher: eBookbase ( All Products by eBookbase Publish Date: ISBN: Category: Language: English Type: Downloadable Formats: Summary: The condition of French society in the early half of the nineteenth century - the period covered by Balzac's novels - may be compared to that of a people endeavouring to recover themselves after an earthquake. Everything had been overthrown, or at least loosened from its base - religion, laws, customs, traditions, castes. Nothing had withstood the shock. When the upheaval finally ceased, there were timid attempts to find out what had been spared and was susceptible of being raised from the ruins. Gradually the process of selection went on, portions of the ancient system of things being joined to the larger modern creation. The two did not work in very well together, however, and the edifice was far from stable. During the Consulate and First Empire, the Emperor's will, so sternly imposed, retarded any movement of natural reconstruction. Outside the military organization, things were stiff and starched and solemn. High and low were situated in circumstances that were different and strange. The new soldier aristocracy reeked of the camp and battle- field; the washer-woman, become a duchess, was ill at ease in the Imperial drawing-room; while those who had thriven and amassed wealth rapidly in trade were equally uncomfortable amidst the vulgar luxury with which they surrounded themselves. Even the common people, whether of capital or province, for whose benefit the Revolution had been made, were silent and afraid. Of the ladies' | |
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