The Alkahest by Honoré de Balzac
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"The Alkahest" by Honoré de Balzac is a novel written in the early 19th century. The story delves into themes of obsession, the pursuit of knowledge, and the impact of one's ambitions on family life, centered around the lives of Balthazar Claes and his wife, Josephine. It explores Claes' relentless quest for the Philosopher's Stone, a mythical substance said to turn base metals into gold, which consumes him and gradually creates strife
within his household. At the start of the narrative, the reader is introduced to the House of Claes in Douai, a residence infused with rich Flemish history. The opening elaborates on the architectural significance of the house and the Claes family's esteemed past, weaving in a poignant portrait of their lives. As Balthazar becomes increasingly absorbed in his scientific endeavors, neglecting his family and responsibilities, his wife Josephine grapples with feelings of despair and concern for her children’s future. Their once-happy marriage begins to fray as Balthazar's obsession leads them down a path of potential ruin, establishing a dichotomy between ambition and familial duty that pervades the novel. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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About this eBook
| Author | Balzac, Honoré de, 1799-1850 |
|---|---|
| Translator | Wormeley, Katharine Prescott, 1830-1908 |
| Title | The Alkahest |
| Credits | Produced by John Bickers, and Dagny, and David Widger |
| Reading Level | Reading ease score: 64.4 (8th & 9th grade). Neither easy nor difficult to read. |
| Language | English |
| LoC Class | PQ: Language and Literatures: Romance literatures: French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese |
| Subject | Philosophical anthropology -- Fiction |
| Subject | French fiction -- Translations into English |
| Category | Text |
| eBook-No. | 1453 |
| ISBN (HTML) | 979-8-238-01453-1 |
| Release Date | Jun 1, 2004 |
| Last Update | Jan 27, 2021 |
| Copyright | Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads | 325 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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