A Man of Business

"A Man of Business" by Honoré de Balzac is a novel that explores the complex world of Parisian finance during the French Restoration, where debt and social status dictate personal relationships. It tells the story of Maxime de Trailles, a clever aristocrat, and two dishonest businessmen, Cerizet and Claparon, who are all tangled in risky financial schemes. Maxime juggles tricky relationships with different women while trying to avoid paying his debts, leading to a battle of wits between Maxime and Cerizet, driven by credit deals and personal grudges. With humor and sharp observations, the novel depicts Parisian society, where money and status rule everything, showing Balzac's critical view of the social and economic forces of his time.