The Celibates

The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Celibates, by Honore de BalzacThis eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it,give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online atwww.gutenberg.netTitle: The Celibates Includes: Pierrette, The Vicar of Tours, and The Two BrothersAuthor: Honore de BalzacTranslator: Katharine Prescott WormeleyRelease Date: August 9, 2005 [EBook #7927]Language: English*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CELIBATES ***Produced by John Bickers; and DagnyTHE CELIBATESBYHONORE DE BALZACINTRODUCTIONLes Celibataires, the longest number of the original Comedie Humaine under a single title, next to Illusions perdues, isnot, like that book, connected by any unity of story. Indeed, the general bond of union is pretty weak; and though it is quitetrue that bachelors and old maids are the heroes and heroines of all three, it would be rather hard to establish any otherbond of connection, and it is rather unlikely that any one unprompted would fix on this as a sufficient ground ofpartnership.Two at least of the component parts, however, are of very high excellence. I do not myself think that Pierrette, whichopens the series, is quite the equal of its companions. Written, as it was, for Countess Anna de Hanska, Balzac's step-daughter of the future, while she was still very young, it partakes necessarily of the ...