Repertory Of The Comedie Humaine, Complete, A - Z

Repertory Of The Comedie
Humaine, Complete, A — Z

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Complete,
A -- Z, by Anatole Cerfberr and Jules François Christophe This eBook
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Title: Repertory Of The Comedie Humaine, Complete, A -- Z
Author: Anatole Cerfberr and Jules François Christophe
Translator: Joseph Walker McSpadden
Release Date: January 29, 2006 [EBook #17635]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII
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REPERTORY THE COMEDIE HUMAINE, A-Z ***

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REPERTORY OF THE COMEDIE HUMAINE

TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE
"Work crowned by the French Academy" is a significant line borne by
the title-page of the original edition of Messieurs Cerfberr and
Christophe's monumental work. The motto indicates the high esteem in
which the French authorities hold this very necessary adjunct to the
great Balzacian structure. And even without this word of approval, the
intelligent reader needs but a glance within the pages of the Repertory
of the Comedie Humaine to convince him at once of its utility.
In brief, the purpose of the Repertory is to give in alphabetical
sequence the names of all the characters forming this Balzacian society,
together with the salient points in their lives. It is, of course, well
known that Balzac made his characters appear again and again, thus
creating out of his distinct novels a miniature world. To cite a case in
point, Rastignac, who comes as near being the hero of the Comedie as
any other single character, makes his first appearance in Father Goriot,
as a student of law; then appearing and disappearing fitfully in a score
of principal novels, he is finally made a minister and peer of France.
Without the aid of the Repertory it would be difficult for any save a
reader of the entire Comedie to trace out his career. But here it is
arranged in temporal sequence, thus giving us a concrete view of the
man and his relation to this society.
In reading any separate story, when reference is made in passing to a
character, the reader will find it helpful and interesting to turn to the
Repertory and find what manner of man it is that is under advisement.
A little systematic reading of this nature will speedily render the reader
a "confirmed Balzacian."
A slight confusion may arise in the use of the Repertory on account of
the subdivision of titles. This is the fault neither of Messieurs Cerfberr
and Christophe nor of the translator, but of Balzac himself, who was
continually changing titles, dividing and subdividing stories, and

revamping and working other changes in his books. Cousin Betty and
Cousin Pons were placed together by him under the general title of
Poor Relations. Being separate stories, we have retained the separate
titles. Similarly, the three divisions of Lost Illusions were never
published together until 1843--in the first complete edition of the
Comedie; before assuming final shape its parts had received several
different titles. In the present text the editor has deemed it best to retain
two of the parts under Lost Illusions, while the third, which presents a
separate Rubempre episode, is given as A Distinguished Provincial at
Paris. The three parts of _The Thirteen--Ferragus, The Duchess of
Langeais, and The Girl with the Golden Eyes_--are given under the
general title. The fourth part of Scenes from a Courtesan's Life,
Vautrin's Last Avatar, which until the Edition Definitive had been
published separately, is here merged into its final place. But the three
parts of The Celibates --Pierrette, The Vicar of Tours and A Bachelor's
Establishment, being detached, are given separately. Other minor
instances occur, but should be readily cleared up by reference to the
Indices, also to the General Introduction given elsewhere.
In the preparation of this English text, great care has been exercised to
gain accuracy--a quality not found in other versions now extant. In one
or two instances, errors have been discovered in the original French,
notably in dates--probably typographical errors--which have been
corrected by means of foot-notes. A few unimportant elisions have
been made for the sake of brevity and coherence. Many difficulties
confront the translator in the preparation of material of this nature,
involving names, dates and titles. Opportunities are constantly afforded
for error, and the work must necessarily be painstaking in order to be
successful. We desire here to express appreciation for the valuable
assistance of Mr. Norman Hinsdale Pitman.
To Balzac, more than to any other author, a Repertory of characters is
applicable; for he it was who not only created an entire human