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The Magic SkinHonoré de Balzac

The Magic Skin

by OpenStories

Original author: Honoré de Balzac

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"The Magic Skin" by Honoré de Balzac is a novel published in 1831. Set in early 19th-century Paris, it follows a young man who discovers a magical piece of shagreen that grants his every wish. However, each desire fulfilled causes the skin to shrink and drains his physical energy. The novel explores the conflict between desire and longevity, examining bourgeois materialism through Balzac's detailed portrayal of Parisian society. It established Balzac as a significant French writer.

The Magic Skin, by Honoré de Balzac. Republished by OpenStories from Project Gutenberg eBook #1307.

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