The Wild Ass's SkinOUP Oxford, 14 juin 2012 - 252 pages 'Who possesses me will possess all things, But his life will belong to me...' Raphael de Valentin, a young aristocrat, has lost all his money in the gaming parlours of the Palais Royal in Paris, and contemplates ending his life by throwing himself into the Seine. He is distracted by the bizarre array of objects in a chaotic antique shop, among them a strange animal skin, a piece of shagreen with magical properties. It will grant its possessor his every wish, but each time a wish is bestowed the skin shrinks, hastening its owner's death. Around this fantastic premise Balzac weaves a compelling psychological portrait of his hero, a prisoner of his own Promethean imagination, and explores profound ideas about the human will, vice and virtue, love and death. Helen Constantine's new translation captures the energy and exuberance of Balzac's novel, one of the most engaging of his 'Études philosophiques' from the Comédie humaine. The accompanying introduction and notes offer fresh insights into this remarkable work. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more. |
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admired Aquilina arms artist asked Auvergne Balzac beautiful carriage charming Chouan colours Comédie humaine Countess creature cried Raphael dear death debauchery delight doctor Dom Calmet doubt dressed Émile everything expression eyes face father feeling Foedora fortune French genius girl give gold hair hand happiness head heart Honoré de Balzac human ideas imagination Jonathas July Revolution La Comédie humaine laugh light Listen live look Lord Byron Louis-Philippe lover luxury Madame man’s Melmoth the Wanderer mind mistress mysterious Napoleon nature never novel onager Paris passion Pauline perhaps Place de Grève Planchette play pleasure poet Porriquet pretty Rastignac replied rich Saint-Quentin salon seemed shagreen silence sleep smile society soul story talisman thought thousand francs took turned uttered Valentin voice walked Wild Ass’s Skin wish woman women words young