Eric Franklin's Reviews > The Human Comedy: Selected Stories

Balzac's characters overflow with vigor and vitality, even if they're self-indulgent and half crazy. He's a male Jane Austen that "goes to 11," Spinal Tap style. You have to be alright reading antiquated language and learning a bit about 19th century Paris to really understand Balzac but if you do, this collection makes an outstanding primer to his work. I had read a couple novels previously ("Cousin Bette" and "The Wild Ass's Skin") and enjoyed them enough to try this collection from New York Review of Books. If NYRB has put out a book I don't like, I haven't found it yet. This was the most enjoyable Balzac reading experience and translation I've read yet.