Honoré de Balzac
French novelist with 'La Comédie humaine'

Born
May 20th, 1799
226 years ago
Died
August 18th, 1850
174 years ago — 51 years old
Category
Artists & Creatives
Country
France
Links & References
A prominent French novelist and playwright, contributed significantly to literature in the 19th century. Created a vast collection of interlinked stories and novels titled 'La Comédie humaine', depicting French society in that era. Addressed themes of social change, the human condition, and intricate character studies. Worked tirelessly on numerous works, influenced later writers and the development of the realist novel.
Authored the multi-volume series 'La Comédie humaine'
Made substantial contributions to realist literature
Explored themes of society and human nature
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