
THE ILLUSTRIOUS GAUDISSART, and THE MUSE OF THE DEPARTMENT
By Honore De Balzac
INTRODUCTION
THE ILLUSTRIOUS GAUDISSART
Translated By Katharine Prescott Wormeley
CHAPTER I
CHAPTER II
CHAPTER III
CHAPTER IV
CHAPTER V
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.
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.

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.
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by Honoré de Balzac

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by Honoré de Balzac