Heartbreaks of an English she-cat

Heartbreaks of an English and Other scenes of private life and public she-cat of the animals - Studies of manners is a collection of animalist tales of Honore de Balzac, written at the request of Pierre-Jules Hetzel for two collective publications of the Diable in Paris , published in 1844 and 1845. Illustrated mainly by Grandville (for Balzac), they appeared, at the sides of tales of J.P Stahl (pseudonym of writer of Hetzel). Charles Nodier, George Sand, and of satirical articles of Balzac. Two volumes of the Diable in Paris were also illustrated by Paul Gavarni.

One of the most remarkable illustrations shows Hetzel, Balzac and perhaps George Sand locked up in a cage of zoo, with birds come to observe them. The legend indicates: defense nothing to throw to the animals. During its publication the text was accommodated with enthusiasm by the English gentry which included/understood humor with the second degree of it. It was besides an English, Edward Bond, which adapted it in booklet of opera, although one (au) rather wrongfully taxed Balzac like Hetzel with anglophobia.

Topic

Beauty, she-cat splendid, which has escaped with the drowning of a range of cats because it has a white hair étincelant, is initially collected in an old maid which informs it of the rules of life victorienne , of an absolute rigidity. It is not question of making wee about the carpet (even if possible, not to make wee of the whole). Not question of eating either in public, not question of indicating the needs for the body in one way or another, and even, it is good not to have not a body. Any natural thing being improper including the pants and behind which bear the name of unnamable .

Very depressed, Beauty is fortunately saved of this hell by an young girl of high birth which is delicious with the she-cat, but very capricious in the choice of his/her husbands. In the procession of the applicants a par is which seems to make the deal of the young girl and who has a Persian cat: Puff, rather old, victorien, and equipped with a little plumpness. It follows of the meetings of cats where one discusses political, social life, company, elegance etc Until the day when arrives Brisquet, French kitten dredger and a little apache which manages not only to to dredge Beauty, but also to amuse it by involving it on the gutters (very improper the French cat). Beauty adores it, but its education prevents it from acknowledging it to him ( improper ), and Brisquet is assassinated by the Persan tom cat and its band, with the great despair of Beauty.

Other tales of the collection

Guide-ass with use them animal which want to arrive at the honors

In addition to the Heartbreaks , the collection comprises a tale where an ass reports the quarrel which opposed the baron Cuvier Georges Cuvier ref. that Balzac designates like a skilful maker of nomenclatures and that it affuble of the name of baron Cerceau and another scientist that Balzac admired: Etienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, on the subject of the organic unit of composition for which all the scientists of Europe impassioned in 1830. The action of unrolls in the Saint-Marceau suburb where the showmen of erudite animals found themselves, with the Botanical garden of Paris, and in the Zoo of London where the ass storyteller finishes his career like incriminating evidence. Balzac brocarde briskly with the passage the way in which the academies, universities, and capacity in place, are arranged to reduce to very scientific silence not adhering to the official doctrines.

Travel of a sparrow of Paris to the research of the best government

Another tale written by Balzac, was allotted to George Sand by decision of the author who qualified it charming apologue of George Sand in a letter that it adessa with Hetzel and who was published in the Charivari for the launching of volume I. Balzac found that its signature too often appeared in this volume I: George Sand accepted trickery with all the more recreation which the text gives a big role to one of his/her large friends (Lamennais), defender of the proletarian under the name of Grand Friquet. Friquet visits initially the island of the ants (the England) where reign wild a Oligarchie, then the republic of the wolves, country of freedom and equality where the hard virtues seem not very convincing (the France).

Travel of a lion from Africa to Paris, and what followed

A lion of the Atlas, crown prince, comes to Paris to perfect its education. It initially is captured, locked up with the zoo of the Botanical garden, then slackened and guided in the city by a tracker dog which makes him discover the records of the boulevards.

This satire of the Lions (dandy-lion) turns into ridiculous the elegant ones which, to splash all-Paris with their splendors, throw themselves in incredible expenditure. They are accompanied by their learned assembly: the tigers (lackey), attend the wolves-cerviers (banking), and use of these small maintained dancers: rats (see: Characters of the human Comedy)

The text was written jointly by Balzac and Hetzel. The author and publisher corrected the tale and wrote the outcome with a vague allusion to the Question of the East .

Loves of two animals offered in example to people of spirit

Subtitle: animau-sentimental history , the text is dedicated by the writer with Miss Anna Granarius, human character of the tale and in love with the pupil of its father, eminent naturalist. One will easily recognize in this pochade a animalist Paul and Virginia . Paul, cochineal captured in Africa for the reproduction in laboratory, refuses any sexual relation obstinately because it remains faithful to its great love: the Virginia caterpillar remained with the country. Anne Granarius, moved by the attitude, of the insect arranges herself with her in love to join together Paul and Virginia who will not cease reproducing. Balzac had fun much to describe the tropical greenhouses and also the fauna of the naturalists, with allusions to Georges Cuvier and Etienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, also launching force winks with the Orientales of Hugo, with the cigars of George Sand, and the Romeo and Juliette of Hector Berlioz.

Adaptations

With the theater: By group TSE. With the Theater Gerard Philippe of Saint-Denis (Seine-Saint-Denis), 1977 - With the Theater Montparnasse 1978. Setting in scene by Alfredo Arias with masks in the style of a South American carnival. The part will make the round the world tour (eight country, twenty eight cities, four hundred and fifty representations, of which several with Broadway.

On television: the spectacle of Alfredo Arias receives the Plaisir price of the theater in 1978.

With the Opera: the English She-cat , Opera, in two acts, booklet of Edward Jump drawn from the news of Honore de Balzac: Heartbreaks of an English she-cat , music of Hans Werner Henze. World creation with the Festival of Schwetzingen in 1983, Coproduction with the Opera of Lyon in 1984.

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