A young woman with a miserly father falls in love with her cousin.

A young couple work through the details of negotiating a marriage contract.

A young daughter seeks independence on her own terms.

Short fiction from the “Scenes from Private Life” section of Balzac’s Human Comedy.

A young man ventures out on his own and suffers the consequences of his pride and impulsiveness.

A young girl grows up in the care of her uncle and his friends, while his heirs scheme to prevent her from inheriting anything.

A doctor, jealous of his brother’s sudden wealth, starts questioning its provenance.