Gobseck
1830
Gobseck is an 1830 novella by French author Honoré de Balzac, part of his larger work, La Comédie humaine. The story is narrated by a young attorney named Derville, who recounts his encounters with Gobseck, a cunning usurer representing the moral complexities of wealth and ambition in society. The novella explores themes of financial corruption and human desire, set against the backdrop of the Vicomtesse de Grandlieu's salon, where societal tensions regarding money and reputation unfold. Gobseck is notable for its incisive commentary on the power of money and its impact on personal relationships.
