Eugénie Grandet by Honoré de Balzac is a beautifully written novel that delves into the complexities of family, wealth, and love. The story follows the life of Eugénie, a young woman living in rural France with her miserly father. Despite their modest means, Eugénie remains kind-hearted and selfless, contrasting sharply with her father's obsession with money.

Balzac's writing is rich in detail and emotion, painting a vivid picture of 19th-century French society. The characters are well-developed, each with their own motivations and flaws that drive the plot forward. Eugénie's struggle to find happiness and independence in a world dominated by greed and materialism is both poignant and relatable.

Overall, Eugénie Grandet is a compelling and thought-provoking novel that explores themes of duty, sacrifice, and the true meaning of wealth. Balzac's prose is both elegant and powerful, making this a classic work of literature that continues to resonate with readers today.

Book Description:
Eugénie Grandet, first published in 1833, is one of Honoré de Balzac's finest novels, and one of the first works in what would become his large novel series titled La Comédie Humaine. Set in a provincial town in post-Revolutionary France, the story deals with money, avarice, love, and obsession. A wealthy old miser must manage the passion of his innocent daughter, who later has to navigate on her own the treacherous ways of a world in which money is "the only god." Balzac's meticulous use of psychological and physical detail influenced the development of 19th-century literary realism, in the hands of writers such as Dickens, Dostoyevsky, Flaubert, and Henry James.