My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I first read this book about fifty years ago and loved it. On the rich plot of the story rests a network of beautiful writing and many clever and surprisingly modern observations of life. Recently I suggested it to our book group and I think it was probably too time consuming as only four people came to the discussion.
From Balzac and Jane Austen I believe I came to think great literature must take into consideration the importance money plays in our lives. In this book, Balzac says the greatest luxury for a person is books and flowers, and when you are too poor for beauty, you are indeed poor. I loved his discussion, for an example of modern correlations from Paris of the 1800's to now, about a Ministry in the government. He said the ministry was like a small village without any women, but as rife with gossip, rumor and conniving behavior. Sadly, I didn't mark the page.
From reading reviews after finishing the book, I learn that Balzac was mourning the decline of the Napoleonic Empire and the decline of religion. His saintly picture of Madame Hulot, however, made me think she was simply a doormat.
He wrote fast and he wrote what, on the surface, seems to be a delicious soap opera. Even so, movies made from "Cousin Bette" all fall short of the delight you get reading this book. (My edition was translated by Marion Ayton Crawford.)
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