Gobseck by Honoré de Balzac

Description

Gobseck by Honoré de Balzac is a novel written in the early 19th century. The book delves into themes of wealth, power, and moral decay set against the backdrop of Parisian society, personified through the protagonist, Gobseck, a usurer whose life story is narrated by a young attorney, Derville. As we move through the narrative, the complexity of human motives and the impacts of financial corruption come into sharp focus, particularly as they relate to the lives of characters like Camille and the Comte de Restaud. The opening of Gobseck introduces us to the Vicomtesse de Grandlieu’s salon, where conversations hint at familial and societal tensions revolving around wealth and reputation. The character of Derville, the attorney, becomes a central narrator as he recounts his youthful encounters with Gobseck, a shrewd old usurer who embodies the themes of economic struggle and moral ambiguity. As Derville shares details about the intricacies of Gobseck’s world, readers are drawn into a narrative that promises a rich exploration of personal ambition, societal dynamics, and the darker sides of human desire intertwined with the pursuit of money and power. (This is an automatically generated summary.)