The Stepmother, A Drama in Five Acts: Play Guide and Free Edition
The Stepmother, A Drama in Five Acts: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.
The Stepmother, A Drama in Five Acts is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Balzac, Honoré de (1799–1850).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"The Stepmother: A Drama in Five Acts" by Honoré de Balzac is a theatrical drama written in the mid-19th century. The play revolves around the complex dynamics of a family led by General Comte de Grandchamp, particularly highlighting the struggle of his daughter, Pauline, and her connections with those around her, including her stepmother, Gertrude, and a suitor named Godard. The narrative delves into themes of love, jealousy, and familial duty, set against the backdrop of societal expectations in 1829 France. At the start of the play, we are introduced to the lavish drawing-room of the General’s chateau, where he and Gertrude discuss their daughter Pauline's prospective marriage. Gertrude expresses concern over the persistent gossip suggesting she is impeding Pauline's romantic opportunities. As the General favors Pauline’s freedom to choose her husband, Godard, a wealthy suitor, enters with intentions of courtship. The opening scenes unfold the tensions between Gertrude and Pauline, contrasting Gertrude's role as a devoted yet insecure stepmother with Pauline’s youthful aspirations and emerging affections for another man, Ferdinand. As familial bonds and romantic endeavors intertwine, underlying animosities and secrets begin to surface, setting the stage for the dramatic conflicts to come.
Book and edition facts
- Title: The Stepmother, A Drama in Five Acts
- Author credits: Balzac, Honoré de (1799–1850)
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- France -- Social life and customs -- 19th century -- Drama
- French drama -- 19th century -- Translations into English
Gutenberg collections
- Category: French Literature
- Category: Plays/Films/Dramas
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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.
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