Honoré de BALZAC.
The Superior Woman. La Maison Nucingen, la Torpille. Paris, Werdet, 1838.
2 volumes in-8: paperback, printed covers of yellow paper: folders in half plum leather, case.
First edition of the three titles.
La Femme supérieure will later become Les Employés.
Autographs signed on each of the two false titles: à ma bonne mère son fils
Honoré
Balzac had a sometimes conflicting relationship with his mother Anne-Charlotte-Laure née
Sallambier, daughter of a wealthy Paris merchant who had become an agent for military supplies during the Revolution. In January 1845, he wrote to Madame Hanska: "All my misfortunes came from my mother; she ruined me by calculation and for pleasure. For sixteen years I have been struggling against the horrible situation she has made for me." Very exaggerated but unambiguous reproaches.
Born in 1778, Madame Balzac was to outlive her son by four years: she died in 1854.
The works dedicated by the novelist to his mother are of great rarity.
A fine copy.
It has been carefully washed and rebound under its covers dated 1839.
Provenance: Jean Davray (1961, no. 122), Pierre Duché (II, 1972, no. 22) and Daniel Sickles (II, 1989, no. 251).