Le Cabinet des Antiques

Le Cabinet des Antiques (The Cabinet of Antiquities) is a French novel published by Honoré de Balzac in 1838 under the title les Rivalités en province (Rivalries in the provinces) in le Constitutionnel, then published as a work in its own right in 1838 by the Souverain publishing house.

Le Cabinet des Antiques
Illustration from an 1897 edition
by Daniel Hernández
AuthorHonoré de Balzac
CountryFrance
LanguageFrench
SeriesLa Comédie humaine
PublisherHyppolite Souverain
Publication date
1839
Preceded byLa Vieille Fille 
Followed byIllusions perdues 

With la Vieille Fille, the work fits into les Rivalités, an isolated group in the Scènes de la vie de province collection of la Comédie humaine. In it, Balzac portrays the old nobility in the French provinces, ruined by the French Revolution and forgotten by the restored Bourbons. The marquis d’Esgrignon, his sister and his friends represent this social group, which the author had already portrayed in la Vieille Fille. The younger generation within this class, represented by the marquis's son, causes his loss, sucked in by the whirlpool of Paris, where he lives merrily and ruins his fortunes.

Le Cabinet des Antiques works as a sequel to la Vieille Fille although the names of its main characters and not exactly the same. It is an adventure story, full of twists and with suspense created by the young son that borders on that of a crime novel as he lies and risks imprisonment.

Plot

The plot is partially narrated by journalist and author, Emile Blondet. The narrator talks about events he has witnessed, mainly his admiration for Armande d'Esgrignon and a small provincial town where his father, the respectable judge Blondet, still lives.

As a child, Blondet frequently watches Armande while she takes a stroll with her nephew, Victurien d'Esgrigon. The angel-faced child is carefully taken care of, as he does not have a mother. He was raised by his doting aunt and his adoring father. As a young man, Victurien is strikingly intelligent but has a habit of lying, he prompts his impoverished family to give him more than they can afford to. Chesnel, the old notary, always manages to clear their debts, eventually ruining himself for Victurien. He even gives the young man his savings when the latter is sent to Paris.

However, becoming a part of the Marquis of Esgrigon's circle is a privilege, as only noble families are admitted. This makes some upstarts, such as Du Croisier, vengeful. The latter notices Victurien's penchants and manages to fault him. Victurien ends up being arrested for owing Du Croisier colossal sums of money. Chesnel manages to get the young man out of trouble with one of his clever ploys.

Victurien eventually marries Du Croisier's niece, wallowing in her vast wealth and regularly making her unhappy.

References
  • (in French) Lise de Laguérenne, « D’un portrait de Mademoiselle de Maupin à la duchesse de Maufrigneuse dans Le Cabinet des Antiques : une lecture créatrice de Balzac », L'Année balzacienne, 1997, n° 18, p. 413-22.
  • (in French) Anthony R. Pugh, « Du Cabinet des antiques à Autre étude de femme », L’Année Balzacienne, Paris, Garnier Frères, 1965, p. 239-52.
  • (in French) Pierre Citron, « Le Cabinet des antiques », L’Année Balzacienne, Paris, Garnier Frères, 1966, p. 370-3.
  • (in French) Anne-Marie Meininger, « Sur Adieu, sur Le Père Goriot, sur Le Cabinet des antiques. », L’Année balzacienne, 1973, n° 380-85.
  • (in French) Pierre Larthomas, « Sur le style de Balzac », L’Année balzacienne, 1987, n° 8, p. 311-27.
  • (in French) S. F. Davies, « Une source inédite d’un épisode du Cabinet des Antiques », L’Année balzacienne, 1974, p. 327-29.


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