Modeste Mignon

Bored by provincial life and hungry for a grand romance, young Modeste Mignon writes an anonymous letter to a celebrated Parisian poet she adores. What she does not know is that the poet, vain and busy, has handed the correspondence to his devoted secretary, who answers in his master’s name and gradually falls in love with the unknown writer himself. Balzac spins the mix-up into a wry comedy about literary fame, feminine daydreams, and the gap between the idol and the honest man standing behind him. Beneath the wit runs a genuine tenderness for a spirited heroine slowly learning to tell true feeling from flattering illusion. Free PDF and EPUB editions are available to read and download here.