Lost Illusions 18371843 is a novel by French author Honor de Balzac. Written as part of his La Comdie humaine sequence Lost Illusions looks at scenes of Parisian and provincial life involving friendship desire and literary ambition. Inspired by his own experiences as a journalist and publisher Balzac sought to tell a story adjacent to his own a story concerning a young man for whom talent is abundant but recognition is woefully scarce. The novels protagonist Lucien Chardon features in Balzacs work A Harlot High and Low as does the villain Vautrin who appears toward the end of Lost Illusions and throughout Father Goriot one of authors most popular and enduring works. The son of a middleclass father and aristocratic mother Lucien Chardon is a promising young poet. He lives in Angoulme with his nowimpoverished motherwho is also a widowand his sister ve. In the province he spends his days with his loyal friend David Schard who encourages his literary lifestyle while studying to be a scientist. Davids eventual marriage to ve only brings the two friends closer together but when Lucien meets the wealthy and influential Mme. de Bargeton with whom he flees to Paris their friendship is lost to Luciens unstoppable ambition. In the city abandoned by Mme. de Bargeton and living under his mothers maiden name Lucien de Rubempr sacrifices morality friendship and family at the altar of poetry slowly becoming another person altogether. Lost Illusions is one of Balzacs most sustained character studies a novel which critiques humanity and high society as much as it does his own commercial interests as a professional writer. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript this edition of Honor de Balzacs Lost Illusions is a classic of French literature reimagined for modern readers.