This is the sequel to Honore de Balzac’s “Lost Illusions”. It’s also called “Splendors and Miseries of Courtesans” or “A harlot high and low” since the French title is “Splendeurs et Misères des courtisanes”
I’ve put off reading this for a while since I had read it wasn’t as good as “Lost Illusions”. But I so badly wanted to find out what happens to Lucien that I simply had to. And I’m glad I did. The characters are amazing and the primary attraction of the book is without a doubt the magnificent criminal known alternately as Vautrin, Don Carlos Herrera, or Jacques Collins. He’s also called “Trompe La Morte” – Cheater of Death. We were introduced to Vautrin in “Pere Goriot” and this book fleshes out his character beautifully.
Vautrin skillfully guides the hapless Lucien along the precipices of Parisian Society and skillfully manipulates all the aristocrats and fashionable members of society. Indeed, this master criminal reminds us of the cunning of the Devil himself. For all his evil however, his love for Lucien is genuine. If I was a regular paranoid fellow, I would call it homosexual in nature, but I don’t believe this to be the case.
It also introduces us to the tragic courtesan known as Esther, who’s skill in overwhelming men gives her the nickname of “La Torpille” – The Torpedo. She’s desperately and tragically in love with Lucien who’s too weak to stand up for her against his mentor Vautrin.
The only flaw of this book is one which also plagues Victor Hugo’s masterpieces, namely an obsession with educating the reader about Paris. In the case of Hugo, it was the description of the chapels, the sewers and Napoleon. With Balzac, it’s the Justice System, ramblings on criminal society and trivial history. Perhaps this sort of writing was apt in the 19th century when people had more time, but it just pisses off today’s readers (including myself.)
One can safely skip these elaborate descriptions and histories and resume the story several pages later. After all, it won’t do to miss out on books with fantastic characters and plots merely because of a flaw that is easily avoided. Imagine if I had given up Les Miserables!
But Balzac’s descriptions aren’t always boring – those dealing with the atmosphere of a room for example. His works are in the “realist” tradition that relies on accurate facts to flesh out the details that make characters and scenes memorable.
Lucien of course continues to be the weak minded, but ambitious poet and dilettante we saw in “Lost Illusions.” The poor guy’s first impulse is always the correct one, showing that his nature is inherently moral, but he’s simply no match for the personality of Trompe la Morte.
A riveting read, where the action sometimes becomes so fast paced that it runs like a thriller – and one that I’m richer for having picked it up.