George Saintsbury / Honoré de Balzac
Librería Samer Atenea
Librería Aciertas (Toledo)
Kálamo Books
Librería Perelló (Valencia)
Librería Elías (Asturias)
Donde los libros
Librería Kolima (Madrid)
Librería Proteo (Málaga)
'The Wild Ass’ Skin' (La Peau de chagrin) is a philosophical novel by Honoré de Balzac, first published in 1831. It tells the story of a young man, Raphaël de Valentin, who acquires a magical piece of shagreen that grants him wishes. However, each wish shrinks the skin and shortens his life. Set in 19th-century Paris, the novel explores themes of desire, wealth, and the consequences of pursuing worldly pleasures. Raphaël’s journey takes him through Parisian society, from the opulent salons of the aristocracy to the gambling dens and artists’ studios, as he grapples with the Faustian bargain he has made. Balzac’s vivid descriptions and social commentary provide a fascinating glimpse into the social and moral landscape of Restoration France. 'The Wild Ass’ Skin' remains a powerful and thought-provoking exploration of human nature, the allure of instant gratification, and the ultimate price of unchecked ambition. This edition includes an introduction by George Saintsbury.This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
