This is a collection of short stories by the French writer Honoré de Balzac. Each story is a satirical take on a different aspect of French society in the mid-19th century, from politics and finance to love and marriage. Balzac is known for his wit and insight into the human condition, and this book is a prime example of his talents as a writer.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 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.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.