Immerse yourself in the inner workings of a quaint French village in this charming novel from HonorĂ© de Balzac, an early master of literary realism. The work was dedicated to Balzacâs brother in law, an engineer in the corps royal des ponts et chaussĂ©es, Eugene Midy de la Greneraye Surville. Brimming with finely observed details and Balzacâs trademark insight into human motivations and morality, âAn Old Maidâ, the first book in âThe Jealousies of a Country Townâ, follows several men who have designs â honorable and not-so-honorable â on one of the villageâs wealthiest bachelorettes. Balzac takes time to carefully describe the house of Mademoiselle Cormon, in the city of Alençon, before entering directly into the heart of the matter. The portrait of Mademoiselle Cormon is one of the most successful in âThe Human Comedyâ. The author delivers in this novel one of his most nuanced analysis of a provincial townâs social, political and financial affairs.