Ursule Mirouet (Penguin Classics)

An essentially simple tale about the struggles and triumph of innocence reviled, "Ursule Mirouet" is characterized by that wealth of penetrating observation so readily associated with Balzac's work. The twin themes of redemption and rebirth are illumianted by a consistently passionate rejection of both philosophic and practical materialsm is favor of love. In this case love is aided by supernatural intervention, which itself effectively illustrated Balzac's lifelong fascination with the occult.