The Deserted Woman

"The Deserted Woman" by Honoré de Balzac is a story set in France during the 1830s that shows how love and society can clash for the French upper class. It tells the story of Gaston de Nueil, a young nobleman from Paris who is drawn to the sadness of the Vicomtesse de Beauseant. Gaston learns about her troubled history while recovering in a quiet town, and his interest grows. Their relationship goes through many ups and downs as Gaston is driven by his young passion, and the Vicomtesse deals with what others think of her and her own past heartaches. Their love story shows how strong emotions and social rules can mix, ending in a sorrowful finale where the heavy price of love within a strict society is revealed.