Quick Facts
French novelist who created La Comédie Humaine, an epic portrait of French society in ninety novels, writing obsessively through the night fueled by coffee until his prodigious body and ambition consumed him.
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Life Journey
Born Honoré Balzac on May 20, 1799, in Tours. His father was a civil servant with literary pretensions; his mother was cold and distant. The boy's childhood lacked warmth but not imagination.
Sent to the Oratorian college at Vendôme, where he spent six years largely forgotten by his family. The lonely, bookish boy read voraciously and began to dream of literary glory.
Against his family's wishes, decided to become a writer. Given two years to prove himself, he moved into a garret in Paris and began writing. The early works were failures.
Tried to become a publisher and printer. The venture failed catastrophically, leaving Balzac with debts that would haunt him for life. He returned to writing with desperate energy.
Published 'Les Chouans,' his first novel signed with his own name. The historical romance was a success. Balzac added the aristocratic 'de' to his name and began his ascent.
Published 'La Peau de Chagrin' (The Wild Ass's Skin), a supernatural tale of desire and destruction. The novel made him famous. Balzac became a literary lion.
Received an anonymous letter from a Polish countess, Ewelina Hanska. They began a correspondence and met the following year. Their relationship would last eighteen years.
Published 'Eugénie Grandet,' his masterpiece of provincial avarice. The miser Grandet became one of literature's great creations. Balzac's reputation soared.
Published 'Le Père Goriot,' introducing recurring characters who would link his novels. The technique transformed his scattered works into a unified vision: La Comédie Humaine.
Established his legendary work routine: writing from midnight to noon, consuming fifty cups of coffee daily. The pace was unsustainable but produced masterpiece after masterpiece.
Published 'Illusions Perdues' (Lost Illusions), his epic of provincial ambition destroyed by Parisian reality. The novel captured an entire society with unprecedented scope.
Organized his works under the title 'La Comédie Humaine,' planning to document all of French society. The project would eventually comprise ninety novels and novellas.
Published 'La Cousine Bette,' his late masterpiece of revenge and destruction. Despite failing health, Balzac's powers remained formidable.
Finally married Ewelina Hanska in Ukraine, after eighteen years of courtship and her husband's death. Balzac was already dying. They returned to Paris together.
Honoré de Balzac died on August 18, 1850, three months after his wedding. His heart, strained by years of coffee and overwork, finally failed. Victor Hugo delivered his funeral oration.