Maitre Cornelius

"Maitre Cornelius" by Honoré de Balzac is a historical novel written in the early 19th century. Set in the 15th century, this story intricately weaves together themes of love, power, and intrigue, centered around the characters of Maitre Cornelius, a reclusive and mysterious silversmith, and the young nobleman Georges d'Estouteville, who is in love with Marie de Saint-Vallier, a daughter of King Louis XI. The unfolding drama explores the complexities of their relationships amid societal constraints and the dangers posed by jealousy and ambition. The opening of the novel sets the stage in a cathedral in Tours during vespers, where the atmosphere is filled with religious tension and unspoken emotions. As the archbishop gives his benediction, the narrative introduces the urgent love affair between Georges and Marie, who secretly meet in the shadows of the church, risking the wrath of her husband, the jealous Count de Saint-Vallier. Their desperate love is heightened by the looming threat of the Count’s suspicions, particularly as he dozes nearby, and the lover is resolved to undertake dangerous plans that intertwine his fate with Maitre Cornelius. As the narrative progresses, the reader is drawn into a world where love, fidelity, and treachery navigate the complex social hierarchies of the time, foreshadowing the dramatic developments to come. (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.