
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.
Language
en
Duration
~3 hours (226K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2005-07-04
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1799–1850
A giant of French fiction, he turned the crowded streets, salons, and back rooms of 19th-century France into vivid, gripping stories. His vast cycle of novels and tales, known as La Comédie humaine, helped shape the modern realist novel.
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by Honoré de Balzac

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