
In the elegant world of early‑twentieth‑century Paris, a young woman stands at the crossroads of duty and desire. Raised by a devoted mother who has painstakingly crafted her intellect, manners and moral compass, she embodies the ideal of a cultivated Parisian lady—graceful, witty in private, and poised like a delicate flower in society’s gaze. The narrative opens with the mother’s anxious reflections on the looming task of finding a suitable husband for her nineteen‑year‑old daughter, whose beauty and education set her apart from most suitors.
Juana Berengére, the daughter, feels the weight of her upbringing: pride intertwined with timidity, confidence in conversation with her mother yet a careful restraint before strangers. As the search for a partner begins, the story captures the tension between personal aspirations and the expectations of a social circle where marriage is both a ritual and a test of a family’s legacy. This first act invites listeners into a richly painted portrait of love, ambition, and the delicate art of choosing a life companion in a city that perfects both virtue and vice.
Language
es
Duration
~2 hours (171K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Chuck Greif and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at DP Europe (http://dp.rastko.net)
Release date
2008-10-30
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1821–1890
A bestselling French novelist and dramatist of the 19th century, he became known for polished, emotional stories that appealed strongly to readers of the Second Empire. His work often explored love, morality, and the tensions of social life.
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