Lost Illusions: A Distinguished Provincial at Paris
Honoré de Balzac
Read by Bruce Pirie
A Distinguished Provincial at Paris (Un grand homme de province à Paris, 1839) is the second book in Balzac’s Lost Illusions trilogy, which is part of his sweeping set of novels collectively titled La Comédie Humaine. The story is set in post-Napoleonic France, when the new bourgeoisie was jostling for position alongside the old aristocracy. In the first volume of the trilogy (Two Poets, 1837), we met Lucien Chardon, an aspiring poet who feels stymied by the pettiness of provincial life. In the present volume, Lucien, now using the more aristocratic-sounding surname "de Rubempré," leaves behind his family in order to seek fame and fortune in the literary world of Paris. He is tested by challenges that are literary, social, financial, and ethical. (13 hr 45 min)
Chapters
Chapter 1 | 20:19 | Read by Bruce Pirie |
Chapter 2 | 34:49 | Read by Bruce Pirie |
Chapter 3 | 26:57 | Read by Bruce Pirie |
Chapter 4 | 27:03 | Read by Bruce Pirie |
Chapter 5 | 25:47 | Read by Bruce Pirie |
Chapter 6 | 31:30 | Read by Bruce Pirie |
Chapter 7 | 28:14 | Read by Bruce Pirie |
Chapter 8 | 28:45 | Read by Bruce Pirie |
Chapter 9 | 23:53 | Read by Bruce Pirie |
Chapter 10 | 30:38 | Read by Bruce Pirie |
Chapter 11 | 28:05 | Read by Bruce Pirie |
Chapter 12 | 25:15 | Read by Bruce Pirie |
Chapter 13 | 28:15 | Read by Bruce Pirie |
Chapter 14 | 28:30 | Read by Bruce Pirie |
Chapter 15 | 23:28 | Read by Bruce Pirie |
Chapter 16 | 30:12 | Read by Bruce Pirie |
Chapter 17 | 22:59 | Read by Bruce Pirie |
Chapter 18 | 28:42 | Read by Bruce Pirie |
Chapter 19 | 31:44 | Read by Bruce Pirie |
Chapter 20 | 25:29 | Read by Bruce Pirie |
Chapter 21 | 24:13 | Read by Bruce Pirie |
Chapter 22 | 24:53 | Read by Bruce Pirie |
Chapter 23 | 17:48 | Read by Bruce Pirie |
Chapter 24 | 30:31 | Read by Bruce Pirie |
Chapter 25 | 22:30 | Read by Bruce Pirie |
Chapter 26 | 29:18 | Read by Bruce Pirie |
Chapter 27 | 28:10 | Read by Bruce Pirie |
Chapter 28 | 25:25 | Read by Bruce Pirie |
Chapter 29 | 32:53 | Read by Bruce Pirie |
Chapter 30 | 19:35 | Read by Bruce Pirie |
Chapter 31 | 20:00 | Read by Bruce Pirie |
Reviews
Amazing!
jenniebrown
The first book in the Lost Illusions three book series is phenomenal and this second does not disappoint. There are a lot of characters and I had to repeat a few chapters just to understand the role they played. It amazes me that the description of the print media holds true even today. It’s exciting to listen to the phenomenal work of Bruce Pirie and the love he obviously has for the genrè shines. Thank you LibriVox and especially Mr. Pirie. On to book three...
Dizzying
Byron Lee Scott
Concluding 2 of the 3 in this series, I'm impressed. The reader is amazing. The number of characters passing through these tales is overwhelming at times. The language and references to facts is over my head. Nevertheless, I found it enthralling. The main characters were interesting. I appreciate the focus on people and situations, rather than tedious descriptions of scenery. Will listen to the third book.
OUTSTANDING
Compulsive Reader
This is an amazing book. So true to life in many ways. Anxious to start the third book in the series. Highly recommended. As always the narrator, mr. Bruce Pirie is outstanding. Thank you, JK
FD
Outstanding narrator of a impressive, thought provoking and amazing book. A must listen
EAC
Great narration but what a sad story..