Cousin Bette by Honoré de Balzac
"Cousin Bette" is a novel set in mid-19th century Paris, focusing on the lives of the Hulot family and their cousin, Bette, an old maid who harbors a deep resentment towards her relatives due to their wealth and social status. When Bette learns that her cousin's husband is having an affair, she decides to exact revenge by manipulating various characters and situations, leading to the downfall of the Hulot family. The novel explores themes of jealousy, revenge, and the destructive power of repressed feelings.
The 437th greatest book of all time
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This book is on the following lists:
- 92nd on The Top 10: The Greatest Books of All Time (The Top 10 (Book))
- 959th on Our Users' Favorite Books of All Time (The Greatest Books Users)
- The Bigger Read List (English PEN)
- Great Books of the Western World (Great Books Foundation)
- William H. F. Lamont’s 100 Best Novels (1947) (archive.org)
- One Hundred Best Books (1916) (John Cowper Powys)
- Harold Bloom's The Western Canon (The Western Canon (Book) by Harold Bloom)
- Finest Works of Fiction (Martin Seymour-Smith and Editors)