The Wild Ass's Skin by Honoré de Balzac

The novel revolves around a young, impoverished Parisian named Raphaël de Valentin who stumbles upon a magical piece of donkey skin that grants him the power to fulfill any desire at the cost of shortening his life with each wish. As he grapples with this Faustian bargain, Raphaël is torn between his ambitions and the fear of death, embarking on a journey of indulgence and introspection. The narrative explores themes of fate, materialism, and the human condition, ultimately questioning whether the pursuit of happiness and the fulfillment of desires can truly lead to contentment.

The 1923rd greatest book of all time

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Total Points: 197

Since this book was first published in 1831, there is a penalty of 0%. The age adjusted score is 197.0.

This is to prevent newer books from reaching super high on the ranked list of the greatest books of all time. The greatest books should also stand the test of time.