Cousin Bette

By: Honoré de Balzac

Narrated by: Johanna Ward

Length: 16 hrs and 25 mins

Publisher's summary

The Bette referred to in this magnificent novel's title is Lisbeth Fischer, an excruciatingly cunning poor relation who both depends upon and nurses a terrible grudge against the family of her beautiful cousin, Adeline. That family is slowly being ruined by the uncontrollable sexual appetites of Adeline's husband, Baron Hulot - appetites that will, in time, give Cousin Bette opportunity to exact her vengeance.

Balzac described Cousin Bette as one of his "scenes of Parisian life", and it is certainly that. It offers us a hypnotic vision of that infinitely varied city during the bright, vital, scandalous, and sexually untrammeled era of King Louis-Philippe. The courtesans, swindlers, bankers, artists, murderers, detectives, and saints populating this world pass before us invested with a verve and vividness unsurpassed in the history of the novel.

(P)1999 Blackstone Audio Inc.

memorable

I absolutely loved this book and listen to it often.
the reader is probably a French speaker as well, as the pronunciation of French names, location and various other words is perfect.
absolutely recommend it :)

Mesmerizing

This book falls into the category of "can't put it down." I found it to be fascinating and captivating, all of the characters are rich. I found that I had to really listen and pay attention, especially in the beginning, but once I was hooked it was most rewarding. The narrator does an exceptional job. You will think about this story even when you are not listening to it.

A morale tale of greed, envy, and vice.

I don't know. Though it seems like a good topic roster to listen to, I had trouble staying interested at times. Maybe it was the reading.

Truly classic

Great narration
Excellent braided subplots
Beautifully realized historical and literary detail.
Skip the intro-dull and off putting.

Sculpted Balzac

reach back to 19th century bourgeoisie and delve in to the flesh and blood

Pre-code scandlous fun

A fine example of inspired professional writing. I read this book after it was mentioned in Prose's reading like a writer...and I was not disappointed. The style of writing is while florid, still engaging and accessible. The number of French clich?s is a delight to the student of language, but having a basic command of French and Paris will make the book all the more enjoying. I recommend this book as the audio backdrop for a 2 week vacation in Paris.

But, I warn the naive or moralistic that this book can be quite shocking...although never pornographic. Rich complex, although often cartoonish character studies.

Good emotional insights, and many tragic insights on the struggles of the un-attractive vs the favored and the transitory nature of both.

Fabulous language, great performance, melodramatic

The language and performance were wonderful.

Balzac is a virtuoso, deft and sure of himself at every turn. He does not doubt his understanding of human beings and their nature. He is who he writes and it is, as a result, very often very believable. In a way, it's a pleasure to experience this alone in this age of self-indulgent self-doubt. He's not very witty, but he does nearly everything with flourish; even the mundane is a triumph of language and characterization.

The performance too is masterful. This woman is a consummate actor, moving with ease and agility between characters and situations with style and aplomb. The narrative never lags through lack of her efforts. She is believable whether playing a woman or a man. She rises to third person, then drops into characters effortlessly. Really well done.

Unfortunately, there is the story to contend with: the idiocy of these men in the throws of "passionate" love throwing their loved ones financial and emotional lives away with careless indifference becomes absurd and annoying. The courtesan, Valérie, and bone dry spinster, Bette, are a just too diabolical; Madame Hulot is so virtuous she's hard to believe and not terribly interesting.

It's just a highfalutin melodrama in the end and wasn't enough fun to make it worth the effort, at least for me.

Really good

I found this a much more interesting novel than Le Pere Goriot. It contains just as much cynicism, though. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and the reader is excellent. The main irritation is with the lecherous lord and his pathetic, saintly wife. I had no sympathy for either of them. Bette is a great character, though.

the nasty lives of elite men early 19th century Paris

I lived the intrigue of this story. I and I loved how the all the women weren’t at the mercy of men of bad manners. There are cunning women, chaste women, and in between. A wonderful, fun story. Why have I never heard of it before?

Does not stand the test of time

The writing is strong and it is easy to see why Balzac is still read. However, the society about which he writes is so unlikeable and Balzac is not writing ironically about it (so it is not clear he knew how narrow minding it was) that listening became quite tiresome. I did not finish it.