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Příběh muže, který se v mládí zamiluje do vdané ženy výjimečných kvalit, jež rozumně řídí jeho život a pod vlivem duševní krize mezi povinností k rodině a osudovou láskou umírá. Muž je nenaplněným citem natolik poznamenán, že ve všech dalších milostných vztazích hledá obraz jen této ženy...

A lo largo de veinte años Balzac escribió 85 novelas que forman su fabulosa Comedia humana. En su obra se destaca esta novela, tal vez su relato más conmovedor, el del desafortunado amor del conde Félix de Vandenesse y la ejemplar Enriqueta, convertida en eterno fantasma, perdurable presencia amorosa en el corazón y la conciencia de Félix.

Librarything couldn't find the edition that I read. Translated, badly, by Katharine Prescott Wormeley. I obtained this some time ago when we had a holiday in the Loire Valley staying in a lovely bed and breakfast in Chinon. Whilst I was making the reservation I asked the proprietor if there was any fiction I could read that was based in the area. This is what he suggested. As it turns out it is an awful, mid 19th century French version of Barbara Cartland. A young man anguishing about two women he falls in love with simultaneously with disastrous results. Badly translated without any feel for readabiity and as monotonous as anything you could think of. All you can say is that the young man deserved his fate in the end. Thank goodness the holiday was better than the book. ( )

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