Analytical Studies

Оглавление

Honoré de Balzac. Analytical Studies

DEDICATION

INTRODUCTION

THE PHYSIOLOGY OF MARRIAGE; OR, THE MUSINGS OF AN ECLECTIC PHILOSOPHER ON THE HAPPINESS AND UNHAPPINESS OF MARRIED LIFE

INTRODUCTION

FIRST PART

A GENERAL CONSIDERATION

MEDITATION I

MEDITATION II

MEDITATION III

MEDITATION IV

MEDITATION V

MEDITATION VI

MEDITATION VII

MEDITATION VIII

MEDITATION IX

SECOND PART

MEANS OF DEFENCE, INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR

MEDITATION X

MEDITATION XI

MEDITATION XII

MEDITATION XIII

MEDITATION XIV

MEDITATION XV

MEDITATION XVI

MEDITATION XVII

MEDITATION XVIII

MEDITATION XIX

MEDITATION XX

MEDITATION XXI

MEDITATION XXII

THIRD PART

RELATING TO CIVIL WAR

MEDITATION XXIII

MEDITATION XXIV

MEDITATION XXV

MEDITATION XXVI

MEDITATION XXVII

MEDITATION XXVIII

MEDITATION XXIX

MEDITATION XXX

POSTSCRIPT

PETTY TROUBLES OF MARRIED LIFE

PART FIRST

PREFACE

PETTY TROUBLES OF MARRIED LIFE

THE UNKINDEST CUT OF ALL

REVELATIONS

AXIOMS

THE ATTENTIONS OF A WIFE

SMALL VEXATIONS

THE ULTIMATUM

WOMEN'S LOGIC

THE JESUITISM OF WOMEN

MEMORIES AND REGRETS

OBSERVATIONS

THE MATRIMONIAL GADFLY

HARD LABOR

FORCED SMILES

NOSOGRAPHY OF THE VILLA

TROUBLE WITHIN TROUBLE

A HOUSEHOLD REVOLUTION

THE ART OF BEING A VICTIM

THE FRENCH CAMPAIGN

A SOLO ON THE HEARSE

PART SECOND

PREFACE

PETTY TROUBLES OF MARRIED LIFE

HUSBANDS DURING THE SECOND MONTH

DISAPPOINTED AMBITION

THE PANGS OF INNOCENCE

THE UNIVERSAL AMADIS

WITHOUT AN OCCUPATION

INDISCRETIONS

BRUTAL DISCLOSURES

A TRUCE

USELESS CARE

SMOKE WITHOUT FIRE

THE DOMESTIC TYRANT

THE AVOWAL

HUMILIATIONS

THE LAST QUARREL

A SIGNAL FAILURE

THE CHESTNUTS IN THE FIRE

ULTIMA RATIO

COMMENTARY

Отрывок из книги

The two Analytical Studies, Physiology of Marriage and Petty Troubles of Married Life, belong quite apart from the action of the Comedie Humaine, and can only be included therein by virtue of a special dispensation on the part of their author, who made for them an eighth division therein, thus giving them a local habitation and a name. Although they come far down in the list of titles, their creation belongs almost to the formative era. Balzac had just shaken his skirts clear of the immature dust of the Oeuvres de Jeunesse, and by the publication, in 1829, of The Chouans, had made his first real bow to his larger public. In December of that same year appeared the Physiology of Marriage, followed eleven months later by a few papers belonging to Petty Troubles of Married Life. Meanwhile, between these two Analytical Studies, came a remarkable novelette, At the Sign of the Cat and Racket, followed soon after by one of the most famous stories of the entire Comedie, The Magic Skin.

We are thus particular to place the two Analytical Studies in time and in environment, that the wonderful versatility of the author may become apparent – and more: that Balzac may be vindicated from the charge of dullness and inaccuracy at this period. Such traits might have been charged against him had he left only the Analytical Studies. But when they are preceded by the faithful though heavy scene of military life, and succeeded by the searching and vivid philosophical study, their faults and failures may be considered for the sake of their company.

.....

Now what mother of a family is there who would expose her daughter to the risk of this fermentation when it has not yet taken place?

On the other hand, what need is there to justify a fact under whose domination all societies exist? Are there not in every country, as we have demonstrated, a vast number of men who live as honestly as possible, without being either celibates or married men?

.....