Lost Illusions

Handsome would-be poet Lucien Chardon is poor and naïve but highly ambitious. Failing to make his name in his dull provincial hometown he is taken up by a patroness the captivating married woman Madame de Bargeton and prepares to forge his way in the glamorous beau monde of Paris. But Lucien has entered a world far more dangerous than he realized as Madame de Bargeton's reputation becomes compromised and the fickle venomous denizens of the courts and salons conspire to keep him out of their ranks. Lucien eventually learns that wherever he goes talent counts for nothing in comparison to money intrigue and unscrupulousness. Lost Illusions is one of the greatest novels in the rich procession of the Comédie humaine Balzac's panoramic social and moral history of his times. For more than seventy years Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1700 titles Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators. Language: English