Cousin Bette
by Honore de Balzac
Earlier in my life, I acted on the stage. My last role was as the mayor's wife in The Music Man, and as an opening night present, my mom gave me a copy of Cousin Bette, because one of my lines in the show was, "Balzac," during the song "Pick-a-Little, Talk-a-Little". Everyone in the cast signed the book for me during opening weekend, and not knowing anything about the book besides the pronunciation of the author's name, I decided to read the first few pages.
Cousin Bette is one of my all-time favorite books. To preserve my signed cast copy, I actually bought another copy of the book so I could read and re-read it to my heart's content in the decades to come. Years later, I purchased a third copy and gave it to my brother, since he'd expressed an interest in reading it after hearing my enthusiastic share during our book club. I inscribed the inside, dubbing the novel "Desperate French-wives", because the incredibly complicated plot reminded me of the evening soap I loved watching on ABC.
While reading this book, which I highly recommend you do, it might be handy to keep a notepad with you, so you can write notes about characters and plots to avoid confusion. If you plan to take longer than a week from start to finish, you'll need to take notes. The first time I read it, I actually had to stop a third of the way through and start over at the beginning. It was worth it, as the plot is constantly surprising and clever, and the characters are cunning, devious, amusing, and above all, extremely easy to root for, despite their sometimes villainous behavior. I guarantee you, this will be one of the most entertaining books you'll ever read.
Balzac writes of several families and outside characters all plotting, cheating, and scheming behind each other's backs, hence my reference to Desperate Housewives. I look at this novel as the pioneer in soapy dramas, my favorite genre. The literary world owes Balzac its sincerest gratitude; without Cousin Bette, there would be no Peyton Place, no Valley of the Dolls, and arguable no Gone With the Wind, a novel that banks on its readers becoming attached to a plotting, scheming anti-heroine.
The language is memorable and captivating, which is ironic since it wasn't originally written in English! I don't know how many translations are circulating, but the version I purchased--three times now--was translated by Marion Crawford. Certain books contain language that simply delights the senses, and Crawford provides such language in Cousin Bette.
One of my favorite passages, because I can't choose just one as a favorite, for your enjoyment: "As the Captain alighted from the milord, accepting a helping hand from the driver, it was evident that he was a man in his fifties. Certain movements, by their undisguised heaviness, are as indiscreet as a birth certificate. He replaced his yellow glove on the hand that he had bared, and, making no inquiry of the concierge, walked towards the steps leading to the mansion's ground floor, with an air that declared 'She is mine!' "
I can't recommend this book highly enough. Whatever your reason for reading it, whether it's the plot, the beautiful prose, or to pay respect to a legend, go out and buy Marion Crawford's translation of Balzac’s Cousin Bette. You'll be so happy you did.
Cousin Bette is one of my all-time favorite books. To preserve my signed cast copy, I actually bought another copy of the book so I could read and re-read it to my heart's content in the decades to come. Years later, I purchased a third copy and gave it to my brother, since he'd expressed an interest in reading it after hearing my enthusiastic share during our book club. I inscribed the inside, dubbing the novel "Desperate French-wives", because the incredibly complicated plot reminded me of the evening soap I loved watching on ABC.
While reading this book, which I highly recommend you do, it might be handy to keep a notepad with you, so you can write notes about characters and plots to avoid confusion. If you plan to take longer than a week from start to finish, you'll need to take notes. The first time I read it, I actually had to stop a third of the way through and start over at the beginning. It was worth it, as the plot is constantly surprising and clever, and the characters are cunning, devious, amusing, and above all, extremely easy to root for, despite their sometimes villainous behavior. I guarantee you, this will be one of the most entertaining books you'll ever read.
Balzac writes of several families and outside characters all plotting, cheating, and scheming behind each other's backs, hence my reference to Desperate Housewives. I look at this novel as the pioneer in soapy dramas, my favorite genre. The literary world owes Balzac its sincerest gratitude; without Cousin Bette, there would be no Peyton Place, no Valley of the Dolls, and arguable no Gone With the Wind, a novel that banks on its readers becoming attached to a plotting, scheming anti-heroine.
The language is memorable and captivating, which is ironic since it wasn't originally written in English! I don't know how many translations are circulating, but the version I purchased--three times now--was translated by Marion Crawford. Certain books contain language that simply delights the senses, and Crawford provides such language in Cousin Bette.
One of my favorite passages, because I can't choose just one as a favorite, for your enjoyment: "As the Captain alighted from the milord, accepting a helping hand from the driver, it was evident that he was a man in his fifties. Certain movements, by their undisguised heaviness, are as indiscreet as a birth certificate. He replaced his yellow glove on the hand that he had bared, and, making no inquiry of the concierge, walked towards the steps leading to the mansion's ground floor, with an air that declared 'She is mine!' "
I can't recommend this book highly enough. Whatever your reason for reading it, whether it's the plot, the beautiful prose, or to pay respect to a legend, go out and buy Marion Crawford's translation of Balzac’s Cousin Bette. You'll be so happy you did.