Lettres à l’étrangère

correspondence of Balzac

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June 30, 2026

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The Lettres à l’étrangère are a collection of posthumously published letters written by Honoré de Balzac to Countess Éveline Hanska. Balzac, a prolific French novelist known for his vast work La Comédie humaine, began a correspondence with Hanska after she expressed admiration for his writings. Their relationship, which began in 1832, developed into a romance, with meetings in Switzerland and Vienna.12

These letters offer significant insight into Balzac's life and creative process, particularly during the period he was striving to clear his debts and secure his marriage to Madame Hanska. The correspondence reveals his ambition, his struggles with finances, and his dedication to his literary career.13

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Honoré de Balzac
Early career
…her by correspondence; the resulting Lettres à l’étrangère (“Letters to a Foreigner”), which appeared posthumously (4 vol., 1889–1950), are an important source of information for the history both of Balzac’s life and of his work.
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…her by correspondence; the resulting Lettres à l’étrangère (“Letters to a Foreigner”), which appeared posthumously (4 vol., 1889–1950), are an important source of information for the history both of Balzac’s life and of his work.
Read More