Parisians in the Country

audiobook

Parisians in the Country

by Honoré de Balzac

EN·~7 hours·13 chapters

Chapters

13 total
1

THE ILLUSTRIOUS GAUDISSART, and THE MUSE OF THE DEPARTMENT

0:03
2

By Honore De Balzac

0:01
3

INTRODUCTION

6:42
4

THE ILLUSTRIOUS GAUDISSART

0:01
5

Translated By Katharine Prescott Wormeley

0:05
6

CHAPTER I

19:33
7

CHAPTER II

15:47
8

CHAPTER III

16:10
9

CHAPTER IV

24:41
10

CHAPTER V

9:57

Description

In this lively tale a smooth‑talking Parisian salesman arrives in a sleepy provincial town, convinced his gift for persuasion can turn any local curiosity into profit. His confidence and quick wit clash with the villagers’ earthy habits, producing a series of comic misunderstandings that reveal both the folly of vanity and the stubborn charm of country life. As he pitches wares and grand promises, the townspeople respond with a mix of admiration, suspicion, and a surprising generosity that keeps the pace bright and the dialogue sparkling.

The story also introduces an irascible literary critic, a colorful rival whose sharp tongue and exaggerated self‑importance add a layer of satire to the social dance. Their exchanges, filled with biting observations on fashion, taste, and ambition, paint a vivid portrait of a France caught between tradition and the restless energy of the capital. Listeners are treated to a keen eye for character and an ability to turn everyday encounters into a mirror that reflects both the absurd and the human.

Collections

Browse all

Details

Language

en

Duration

~7 hours (449K characters)

Publisher of text edition

Project Gutenberg

Credits

Produced by John Bickers, David Widger, and Dagny

Release date

2005-04-01

Rights

Public domain in the USA.

About the author

Honoré de Balzac

Honoré de Balzac

1799–1850

A giant of French fiction, this restless, ambitious storyteller built a whole literary world in La Comédie humaine, capturing the dreams, vanities, and struggles of 19th-century society. His novels still feel lively because they care so much about money, power, love, and the ways people reinvent themselves.

View all books

You may also like

Seraphita

Seraphita

by Honoré de Balzac

An Old Maid

An Old Maid

by Honoré de Balzac

Lost Illusions

Lost Illusions

by Honoré de Balzac

Droll Stories — Volume 2

Droll Stories — Volume 2

by Honoré de Balzac

The Magic Skin

The Magic Skin

by Honoré de Balzac