The Hated Son: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition
The Hated Son: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.

The Hated Son is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Balzac, Honoré de (1799–1850). The listed translation credits are Wormeley, Katharine Prescott (1830–1908).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"The Hated Son" by Honoré de Balzac is a novel written during the early 19th century. The story revolves around the tragic life of Comtesse Jeanne d'Herouville, who fears for the future of her unborn child due to her husband, the Comte d'Herouville's, violent and oppressive nature. This tale captures the complexities of family relationships, love, and dread during a tumultuous time when civil war raged across France. At the start of the novel, we are introduced to Comtesse Jeanne in the throes of childbirth amidst a fierce storm. Filled with anxieties about her husband’s potential reaction to their child’s legitimacy and health, she reflects on her painful marriage and lost hopes. The opening describes her husband's terrifying demeanor and the oppressive atmosphere of their bedroom, contrasting with the innocence of the child she longs to protect. As her labor intensifies, the countess confronts her fears, sensing the threat the count poses not just to herself but to their unborn child. This gripping introduction sets the stage for a family saga steeped in tension and emotional struggle, exploring themes of maternal love and the grim realities of 17th-century aristocracy.
Book and edition facts
- Title: The Hated Son
- Author credits: Balzac, Honoré de (1799–1850)
- Catalogue language: English
- Translator credits: Wormeley, Katharine Prescott (1830–1908)
Catalogue subjects
- France -- Fiction
- French fiction -- Translations into English
- Man-woman relationships -- Fiction
- Nobility -- France -- Fiction
Gutenberg collections
- Category: French Literature
- Category: Historical Novels
- Category: Novels
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View the complete Gutenberg catalogue record. Project Gutenberg identifies this edition as public domain in the United States; that designation does not establish its copyright status in every country.
Source notes
Catalogue metadata is public domain and is supplied through Gutendex, which imports Gutenberg's machine-readable catalogue. The automated synopsis is source-supplied, not an independently verified review. Author dates above describe the credited people; no ebook release date is presented as the book's original publication date.


