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September 12, 2026Short & citedBlog
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Screen & Stage • Literature

Honoré de Balzac

Honoré de Balzac was a French novelist and playwright best known for the interconnected series of novels and stories called *La Comédie humaine* (*The Human Comedy*).

Updated September 12, 20261 min readCited sources

Honoré de Balzac was a French novelist and playwright best known for his interconnected series *La Comédie humaine*. He is a foundational figure in 19th-century European realism.

What it is

Balzac’s major work, *La Comédie humaine*, is a cycle of over 90 novels and short stories designed to portray French society in exhaustive detail. It includes famous titles like *Le Père Goriot* and *Eugénie Grandet*.

Why it matters

Balzac helped define literary realism, influencing writers across Europe and beyond. In Canada, his work is studied in literature courses, particularly within French-language traditions in Quebec, where his detailed social observation remains a touchstone.

Key details

Born in Tours in 1799, Balzac wrote more than 90 novels plus plays and essays. He died in Paris in 1850 at age 51 from gangrene linked to congestive heart failure, worsened by overwork.

In short

  • French novelist and playwright, born 1799, died 1850.
  • Created *La Comédie humaine*, a cycle of over 90 works.
  • Key figure in literary realism.
  • Influences French-language literature in Canada.
Canadian angle

Balzac is studied in Canadian literature courses as a foundational realist novelist whose influence extends into French-language literary traditions in Canada, especially in Quebec.

Quick questions

Who was Honoré de Balzac?
Honoré de Balzac was a French novelist and playwright, born in 1799 and died in 1850, widely regarded as a master of realism.
What did Balzac write?
He wrote novels, short stories, plays, and essays. His most famous collection is *La Comédie humaine*.
How many books did Balzac write?
He wrote more than 90 novels, plus many short stories and plays. *La Comédie humaine* alone includes about 91 titles.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honor%C3%A9_de_Balzac
    Supports: Birth, death, occupation, and death cause.
  2. Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/biography/Honore-de-Balzac
    Supports: Overview of Balzac as a French writer and his connection to La Comédie humaine.
  3. Wikipédia — https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honor%C3%A9_de_Balzac
    Supports: Balzac’s broader body of work and role as a French writer.
  4. Simple English Wikipedia — https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honor%C3%A9_de_Balzac
    Supports: Summary of his most famous work and general biography.
  5. Encyclopedia.com — https://www.encyclopedia.com/people/literature-and-arts/french-literature-biographies/honore-de-balzac
    Supports: More than ninety novels and death information.
  6. EBSCO — https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/history/honore-de-balzac
    Supports: Approximate output of ninety-five novels and his importance to realism.