A Start in Life

"A Start in Life" by Honoré de Balzac is a novel written in the early 19th century. It follows the life of Pierrotin, a humble coachman operating a mixed-service line between Paris and Isle-Adam, navigating both personal ambitions and the changing socio-economic landscape of transportation during the era of early railroads. The opening of the novel sets the stage for Pierrotin’s struggles, introducing us to his aspirations of upgrading his service with a new coach amid fierce competition from established companies. It hints at Pierrotin's life circumstances, including his financial struggles with a looming debt and his hope for increased business that lies ahead. As he interacts with other characters, including his fellow coachmen and a young traveler named Oscar, the reader is drawn into the vibrant tapestry of Parisian society and the impacts of modernization, creating a compelling foundation for the narrative that follows. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Honoré de Balzac was a French novelist and playwright. The novel sequence La Comédie humaine, which presents a panorama of post-Napoleonic French life, is generally viewed as his magnum opus.