Project Gutenberg 2005-07-13 Public domain in the USA. 127 Balzac, Honoré de 1799 1850 Balzac, Honore de Saint-Aubin, Horace de De Balzac, Honoré Balzac, H. de (Honoré de) Wormeley, Katharine Prescott 1830 1908 The Recruit Wikipedia page about this book: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_R%C3%A9quisitionnaire Produced by John Bickers, and Dagny, and David Widger "The Recruit" by Honoré de Balzac is a novel set during the tumultuous period of the French Revolution, specifically in the late 18th century. This work explores themes of maternal love, sacrifice, and the complexities of social dynamics amid a backdrop of political upheaval. Balzac, known for his detailed characterizations and social commentary, presents a narrative that highlights the struggles of individuals navigating a world marked by danger and shifting allegiances. The story revolves around Madame de Dey, a widow living in Carentan, who is deeply concerned for her son, Comte de Dey, an émigré soldier. As rumors swirl about her actions and possible treasonous motives, she awaits the return of her son, who has sent a letter indicating he is coming home after being captured. The tension escalates as she hosts a gathering, attempting to maintain appearances while hiding her fears and hopes. Ultimately, a recruit, Julien Jussieu, arrives to stay at her home, producing a striking resemblance to her son, triggering a whirlwind of emotions and a heightened sense of danger as the local public prosecutor becomes suspicious. In an agonizing twist, as Madame de Dey's hope deteriorates, her son meets a tragic fate, illustrating the profound connection between a mother and her child, as well as the cruel realities of their time. (This is an automatically generated summary.) Reading ease score: 66.4 (8th & 9th grade). Neither easy nor difficult to read. en French fiction -- Translations into English PQ Text Category: Historical Novels Category: Novels Category: French Literature 62457 2025-08-01T09:45:48.993007 text/html 57641 2013-04-04T16:09:14 text/html; charset=us-ascii 82523 2025-08-01T09:45:52.732964 application/epub+zip 81209 2025-08-01T09:45:50.538975 application/epub+zip 81209 2025-08-01T09:45:49.528990 application/epub+zip 148705 2025-08-01T09:45:54.345994 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 141842 2025-08-01T09:45:52.129972 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 111923 2022-09-01T10:57:25.711374 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 51991 2023-10-01T08:53:11.438604 text/plain 16979 2025-08-01T09:45:54.488968 application/rdf+xml 10334 2025-08-01T09:45:50.026973 image/jpeg 2823 2025-08-01T09:45:49.775975 image/jpeg 79220 2025-08-01T09:45:48.999991 application/octet-stream application/zip Archives containing the RDF files for *all* our books can be downloaded at https://book.klll.cc/wiki/Gutenberg:Feeds#The_Complete_Project_Gutenberg_Catalog fr.wikipedia en.wikipedia en.wikipedia