Project Gutenberg 2004-08-23 Public domain in the USA. 260 Balzac, Honoré de 1799 1850 Balzac, Honore de Saint-Aubin, Horace de De Balzac, Honoré Balzac, H. de (Honoré de) Droll Stories — Volume 1 Translation of: Les contes drôlatiques See also: Vol 2: #2318, Vol 3: #2551, and the complete work #13260 Wikipedia page about this book: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Les_Cent_Contes_drolatiques The fair Imperia -- The venial sin -- The king's sweetheart -- The devil's heir -- The merrie jests of King Louis the Eleventh -- The high constable's wife -- The maid of Thilouse -- The brothers-in-arms -- The vicar of Azay-le-Rideau -- The reproach. Produced by Ian Hodgson, and Dagny "Droll Stories — Volume 1" by Honoré de Balzac is a collection of short stories written in the early 19th century. The work consists of ten tales, drawing humor and themes from the lives and manners of 16th-century France, particularly spotlighting the social and moral nuances found in provincial life. Balzac, known for his keen observation of society, frequently contrasts the innocent and the corrupt, suggesting a wealth of comedic and provocative scenarios involving various characters in the realm of love, morality, and human folly. The opening of this volume establishes a vibrant and playful tone, beginning with a prologue that hints at the historical atmosphere of the stories to come. Within the first tale, "The Fair Imperia," we are introduced to Philippe de Mala, a young priest, who grapples with temptation in the lavish and indulgent context of the Council of Constance. His comic misadventures and innocent aspirations lead him into awkward encounters with courtesans and their patrons, including the captivating Imperia, whose charm ensnares him. This mix of innocence and lechery, alongside the humorous consequences of bourgeois desire, sets the stage for Balzac's exploration of human interactions within the vibrant backdrop of 16th-century French society. The narrative promises both amusement and a satirical reflection on love, virtue, and vice. (This is an automatically generated summary.) Reading ease score: 68.8 (8th & 9th grade). Neither easy nor difficult to read. en Humorous stories French literature -- 19th century France -- Social life and customs -- Fiction Short stories, French -- Translations into English PQ Text Category: Short Stories Category: Humour Category: French Literature 383095 2025-08-01T11:32:11.429521 text/html 377764 2020-12-31T14:43:55 text/html; charset=us-ascii 138101 2020-12-31T14:43:55 text/html; charset=us-ascii application/zip 214067 2025-08-01T11:32:18.614466 application/epub+zip 219426 2025-08-01T11:32:14.208499 application/epub+zip 204032 2025-08-01T11:32:13.126508 application/epub+zip 404611 2025-08-01T11:32:21.938493 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 383633 2025-08-01T11:32:17.968503 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 327588 2022-09-01T12:54:50.087915 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 345665 2025-08-01T11:32:10.776559 text/plain; charset=us-ascii 345451 2020-12-31T14:43:55 text/plain; charset=us-ascii 133712 2020-12-31T14:43:55 text/plain; charset=us-ascii application/zip 20559 2025-08-01T11:32:22.133439 application/rdf+xml 14388 2025-08-01T11:32:13.624481 image/jpeg 4042 2025-08-01T11:32:13.372502 image/jpeg 209149 2025-08-01T11:32:11.461514 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