The Vicar of Tours by Honoré de Balzac

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About this eBook

Author Balzac, Honoré de, 1799-1850
Translator Wormeley, Katharine Prescott, 1830-1908
Title The Vicar of Tours
Credits Produced by John Bickers, and Dagny, and David Widger
Summary "The Vicar of Tours" by Honoré de Balzac is a novel written in the early 19th century. The story follows the life of Abbe Birotteau, a corpulent and gout-ridden priest in the town of Tours, who is consumed by aspirations for a more prestigious ecclesiastical position and material comforts, particularly that of living in a well-furnished apartment previously belonging to his late friend. Central to the narrative is the conflict between Birotteau and Mademoiselle Gamard, his landlady, who embodies the pitfalls of jealousy and vengeance in a domestic space shared with fellow clerics. The opening of the novel introduces us to Abbe Birotteau's mundane struggles, including his discontent with the rainy weather and foreboding thoughts of gout. As he returns from a gathering that fills him with hope for his anticipated promotion, he reflects on his long-desired living arrangements, now in the home of Mademoiselle Gamard. However, the narrative hints at brewing conflict with Gamard, who harbors resentment towards Birotteau and appears to manipulate the circumstances of their shared living situation. As the story unfolds, we witness Birotteau's growing awareness of these tensions, set against the backdrop of his naive aspirations and the dynamics of provincial life that encapsulate themes of ambition, envy, and the quest for social validation. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
Language English
LoC Class PQ: Language and Literatures: Romance literatures: French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese
Subject French fiction -- Translations into English
Category Text
EBook-No. 1345
Release Date
Most Recently Updated Jan 27, 2021
Copyright Status Public domain in the USA.
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