The Physiology of Marriage, Part 1

audiobook

The Physiology of Marriage, Part 1

by Honoré de Balzac

EN·~3 hours·2 chapters

Chapters

2 total
1

Produced by Dagny; and John Bickers

3:55:46
2

DECEMBER 5, 1829. - FIRST PART. - A GENERAL CONSIDERATION.

0:13

Description

A clever, tongue‑in‑cheek meditation on the institution of marriage opens this work, where the author treats the topic as a living laboratory of human nature. Drawing on legal history, social customs, and the ever‑present specter of adultery, he sketches a portrait of married life that is at once humorous and unsettling. The opening pages set the stage for a satirical inquiry that questions whether the rules governing couples have ever truly served their happiness.

At the heart of the essay lies a whimsical premise: after twenty‑seven years together, a husband and wife suddenly fall in love for the first time. This unexpected spark becomes the launchpad for a series of observations about desire, duty, and the ways society shapes intimate bonds. Listeners will be drawn into a lively blend of irony and insight, discovering how a seemingly simple anecdote can illuminate the complexities of partnership and the ever‑evolving quest for fulfillment.

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Details

Language

en

Duration

~3 hours (226K characters)

Publisher of text edition

Project Gutenberg

Release date

2005-07-04

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.

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