Honoré de Balzac, The Centenarian. Trans. and ed. by Danièle
Chatelain and George Slusser. Middletown, CT: Wesleyan UP, 2006.
368 pp. 5 1/2" x 8 1/2"
$29.95 cloth, ISBN 0-8195-6797-3

“The Centenarian is a very lively read. This translation throws new light on the development of realism, the Faust myth, and the origins of science fiction.” —Allen Thiher, author of The French Novel from Balzac to Proust

“In The Centenarian, Balzac first discovered his artistic stride, first amalgamated the distinctive preoccupations of French science fiction, and first forged a philosophical framework for his Comédie humaine. This translation is a revelation.” —Eric S. Rabkin, Professor of English, University of Michigan

“This excellent, scholarly edition provides the first English translation of an obscure, early Balzac work (1822). A mix of gothic elements, romance and SF ... this improbable tale reveals a writer seeking a voice and will appeal to scholarly readers interested in the early history of science fiction and its origins in 19th-century French popular literature.” —Publishers Weekly

“... an enchanting and worthwhile publication. Highly recommended..”—Choice