Honoré de Balzac

The Cousin Bette, which was adapted for film or television more than once, is the story of Lisbeth Fischer, or Bette, a pour cousin full of anger and passion who tries to ruin the lives of a few wealthy people in her family. The Cousin Bette is part of Scènes de la vie parisienne, section Les Parents pauvres of the …

Histoire de la grandeur et de la décadence de César Birotteau or César Birotteau, is an 1837 novel by Honoré de Balzac as part of his series La Comédie humaine. Its main character is a Parisian perfumier who achieves success in the cosmetics business, but becomes bankrupt due to property speculation.