Splendeurs et misères des courtisanes [SEP] series
- "The Last Incarnation of Vautrin" ("La Dernière incarnation de Vautrin", 1847)
It continues the story of Lucien de Rubempré, who was a main character in "Illusions perdues", a preceding Balzac novel. "Splendeurs et misères des courtisanes" forms part of Balzac's "La Comédie humaine".
Plot summary.
Lucien de Rubempré and "Abbé Herrera" (Vautrin) have made a pact, in which Lucien will arrive at success in Paris if he agrees to follow Vautrin's
appearance of homosexuality in modern literature.
(8) "Illusions perdues" is, according to Donald Adamson, "a revelation of the secret workings of the world, rather than a "Bildungsroman" illuminating the development of character".
Sequel.
The success of this novel inspired Balzac to write a four-part sequel, "Splendeurs et misères des courtisanes" (published in four parts from 1838-1847). "Illusions perdues" and "Splendeurs et misères des courtisanes" form part of "La Comédie