Made into a 1967 film by Louis Malle and never before available in English, this classic of anarchist literature follows a once well-to-do young man forced into an itinerant life of crime.The Thief is a picture of the sleezy underbelly of the Belle Époque, a broadside fired against the corruptions of power and privilege. Written by the anarchist activist Georges Darien (a pseudonym that can be translated as “Lord Nothing”), it found almost no readers when ...

A bracing novel of work, labor, and collective action, this vibrantly written debut is narrated by a man who runs a high-speed train in France—a story born out of the author’s experience as a real-life train driver.Driver is a book about a young man from the provinces who moves to Paris and studies to become a train driver. As he learns about trains and their intricate workings, he is transported into a world in constant motion, with its own laws and codes...

Paul Scarron's masterpiece, The Comic Romance, recounts the adventures of a troupe of provincial itinerant actors, skilfully weaving comic anecdotes of their amorous exploits and the central love story between Leandre and his beloved Angelique into a rich and realistic tapestry depicting rural France.

“This is the original Game of Thrones.” George R.R. Martin.No man is impervious to the poisons of the crown…Having murdered his wife and exiled his mistress, King Louis X of France becomes besotted with Princess Clemence of Hungary and makes her his new Queen.However, though the matter of the succession should be assured, it is far from so, as Louis embarks on an ill-fated war against Flanders.Where his father, Philip IV, was strong, Louis is weak, and the a...

Apr 1789 - Jul 1790At Fontainebleau all seems peaceful and serene, with Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette secure on their thrones. Yet as Roger Brook arrives on a secret and vital mission for Prime Minister Pitt, the smell of blood, Revolution and Terror is already in the air.Intrigue, violence, suspicion – this is the maelstrom into which Roger is plunged at once. But with it: love. Isabella D'Arana is beautiful, Spanish – and married. Laws and conventions mus...

After a deadly duel with a jealous rival, Pierre de Siorac must travel to Paris, to seek his pardon from the King. In the capital city he finds a world of sweet words and fierce pride, where coquettish smiles hide behind fans, and murderous intents behind elegant bows. But the court's elaborate social graces mask a simmering tension that will soon explode to engulf the entire city.When it does, Pierre faces the greatest challenge of his young existence-not merely to win a royal par...

**A NYRB CLASSICS ORIGINALDiscover 9 classic short stories by the giant of French literature—whose work inspired Dostoyevsky, Henry James, and Marcel Proust—with this collection showcasing Balzac’s impressive range.**Characters from every corner of society and all walks of life—lords and ladies, businessmen and military men, poor clerks, unforgiving moneylenders, aspiring politicians, artists, actresses, swindlers, misers, parasites, sexual adventurers, crackpots, and more—...

Raphael Sabatini (1875 –1950) was an Italian/English writer of novels of romance and adventure.He is best known for his worldwide best-sellers:The Sea Hawk (1915), a tale of an Elizabethan Englishman among the pirates of the Barbary Coast;Scaramouche (1921), a tale of the French Revolution in which a fugitive hides out in a commedia dell'arte troupe and later becomes a fencing master (Sabatini wrote a sequel ten years later);Captain Blood (1922), in which th...

First published in 1874 Les Diaboliques caused an uproar and all the copies were seized on the orders of the Ministry of Justice as the book was a danger to public morality. Scandal made the book an immediate success. One hundred and thirty years later it is now firmly established as a classic and studied in French schools. "The book is a celebration of the seven deadly vices and shows no counterbalancing interest in the seven cardinal virtues. Even more, it is a celebration of pride, the ...

In "Maitre Cornelius," Honoré de Balzac weaves a captivating tale steeped in the intricate social and economic landscape of 19th-century France. This novella centers around the enigmatic figure of Cornelius, a prosperous yet morally ambiguous merchant whose life oscillates between avarice and altruism. Balzac's vivid characterization and masterful use of dialogue peel back the layers of Parisian society, reflecting his keen observations and sharp critiques of materialism and ambition. The ...

In 'El Verdugo,' Honor√© de Balzac explores the intricate dynamics of power, justice, and morality amid the societal upheavals of 19th-century France. Through a rich, realist narrative style characterized by detailed characterizations and intricate plot structures, Balzac delves into the psychological complexity of his protagonists. The novella reflects the author'Äôs dissection of societal hierarchies and moral dilemmas, encapsulating the existential struggles of its time while revealing ...