Le Mot fatal

Langage, pouvoir et trait d'esprit dans La Comedie humaine de Balzac

by Laelia Veron

Image coming soon

Extent: 483 pages

Publisher: Classiques Garnier

Subjects: French Studies, Literary Studies, Nineteenth-Century Studies

Series: Etudes romantiques et dix-neuviemistes

Series volume number: 147, 13

Language: French

Paperback (Published)

(August 2025)

ISBN: 9782406187844

5.91 x 8.62 inches

Price: $62.00

Out of stock

Hardback (Published)

(August 2025)

ISBN: 9782406187851

5.91 x 8.62 inches

Price: $113.00

Out of stock

Words can kill in Balzac’s world. Like an arrow, the trait d’esprit (witticism) has to hit its target, and to delight an audience who may or may not confirm its effect. As a performance negotiated between the speaker and his/her social group, the witticism raises the question of a political and social style.

  • By (author) Laelia Veron