Mild, harmless and ugly to behold, the impoverished Pons is an ageing musician whose brief fame has fallen to nothing. Living a placid Parisian life as a bachelor in a shared apartment with his friend Schmucke, he maintains only two passions: a devotion to fine dining in the company of wealthy but disdainful relatives, and a dedication to the collection of antiques. When these relatives become aware of the true value of his art collection, however, their sneering contempt for the parasitic Pons rapidly falls away as they struggle to obtain a piece of the weakening man's inheritance. Taking its place in the Human Comedy as a companion to Cousin Bette, the darkly humorous Cousin Pons is among of the last and greatest of Balzac's novels concerning French urban society: a cynical, pessimistic but never despairing consideration of human nature.

For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 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.

About the Author

The son of a civil servant, Honor� de Balzac was born in 1799 in Tours, France. After attending boarding school in Vend�me, he gravitated to Paris where he worked as a legal clerk and a hack writer, using various pseudonyms, often in collaboration with other writers. Balzac turned exclusively to fiction at the age of thirty and went on to write a large number of novels and short stories set amid turbulent nineteenth-century France. He entitled his collective works The Human Comedy. Along with Victor Hugo and Dumas p�re and fils, Balzac was one of the pillars of French romantic literature. He died in 1850, shortly after his marriage to the Polish countess Evelina Hanska, his lover of eighteen years.

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

Store Description

We are Orphans Treasure Box Books, a 501(c)3 non-profit book store that turns donated books into resources for orphans and vulnerable kids. We support adoption assistance for older and special needs kids. We support orphanages and orphan initiatives around the world, as well as vulnerable children in the Central Illinois area. We also set aside jobs in our business for homeless single parents.

Visit Seller's Storefront

Seller's business information

Orphans Treasure Box
826 Pioneer St, Champaign, IL, 61820, U.S.A.

Sale & Shipping Terms

Terms of Sale

At Orphans Treasure Box, we guarantee the condition of every book as it's described on the Abebooks.com. If you're dissatisfied with your purchase (Incorrect Book/Not as Described/Damaged) or if the order hasn't arrived, you are eligible for a refund within 30 days of the estimated delivery date. If you've changed your mind about a book that you've ordered, please use the Ask Bookseller a Question link to contact us, and we'll respond within 2 business days. You may contact us directly at contac...

More Information

Shipping Terms

Orders ship within 2-3 business days. Shipping costs are based on books weighing 2.2 LB, or 1 KG. If your book order is heavy or oversized, we may contact you to let you know extra shipping is required.

Shipping rates within U.S.A.

Shipping rates within U.S.A.
Order quantity	6 to 14 business days	2 to 4 business days
First item	US$ 3.99	US$ 7.99

Delivery times are set by sellers and vary by carrier and location. Orders passing through Customs may face delays and buyers are responsible for any associated duties or fees. Sellers may contact you regarding additional charges to cover any increased costs to ship your items.