Cousin Pons

Cousin Pons, novel by Honoré de Balzac, published in 1847 as Le Cousin Pons. One of the novels that makes up Balzac’s series La Comédie humaine (The Human Comedy), Cousin Pons is often paired with La Cousine Bette under the title Les Parents pauvres (“The Poor Relations”). One of the last and greatest of Balzac’s novels of French urban society, the book tells the story of Sylvain Pons, a poor musician who is swindled by his wealthy relatives when they learn that his collection of art and antiques is worth a fortune. In contrast to his counterpart Cousin Bette, who seeks revenge against those who have humiliated her, Cousin Pons suffers passively as his health deteriorates and he eventually dies. Balzac shows how a person without means can be crushed by a society that has no values except material ones.