Ursule Mirouët

La Comédie Humaine #29

by Honoré de Balzac, Donald Adamson (Introduction)

In the small town of Nemours the locals gossip about the extent of Dr Minoret's wealth. When it is discovered that he intends to leave a large part of it to Ursule, his good-hearted, orphaned young ward, the avaricious Minoret relations scheme a way to get their hands on the fortune at any cost. Balzac considered Ursule Mirouët, his simple, penetrating story of the struggle over an inheritance, his masterpiece. Part of his panorama of French life La Comédie Humaine, it is a touching portrayal of innocence and faith, informed by a strong sense of fate, the supernatural and divine justice.

Genres: Classics, Fiction, France, French Literature, 19th Century, Literature, Novels

272 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1841

About the author

French writer Honoré de Balzac (born Honoré Balzac), a founder of the realist school of fiction, portrayed the panorama of society in a body of works, known collectively as La comédie humaine .

Honoré de Balzac authored 19th-century novels and plays. After the fall of Napoléon in 1815, his magnum opus, a sequence of almost a hundred novels and plays, entitled, presents life in the years.

Due to keen observation of fine detail and unfiltered representation, European literature regards Balzac. He features renowned multifaceted, even complex, morally ambiguous, full lesser characters. Character well imbues inanimate objects; the city of Paris, a backdrop, takes on many qualities. He influenced many famous authors, including the novelists Marcel Proust, Émile Zola, Charles John Huffam Dickens, Gustave Flaubert, Henry James, and Jack Kerouac as well as important philosophers, such as Friedrich Engels. Many works of Balzac, made into films, continue to inspire.

An enthusiastic reader and independent thinker as a child, Balzac adapted with trouble to the teaching style of his grammar. His willful nature caused trouble throughout his life and frustrated his ambitions to succeed in the world of business. Balzac finished, and people then apprenticed him as a legal clerk, but after wearying of banal routine, he turned his back on law. He attempted a publisher, printer, businessman, critic, and politician before and during his career. He failed in these efforts From his own experience, he reflects life difficulties and includes scenes.

Possibly due to his intense schedule and from health problems, Balzac suffered throughout his life. Financial and personal drama often strained his relationship with his family, and he lost more than one friend over critical reviews. In 1850, he married Ewelina Hańska, his longtime paramour; five months later, he passed away.

Reviews

[TBV (on hiatus)]

GREED! Utter greed. People obsessed with what they could possibly inherit from old Dr Minoret. Always gossiping, scheming and plotting, and oh, when the old man finally dies, what a scramble to grab, grab, grab.

In Balzac's La Comédie Humaine series this novel (#29*) is part of the section titled Scenes from Provincial Life, and a very provincial life is on display here. Every one knows exactly what everyone else is doing, and in particular what old Dr Minoret and his young ward, Ursule, are doing and saying. Their every word is analysed as everyone tries to guess what might happen next and who will inherit what.

These appalling people and their small mindedness and malice are very well portrayed. But not all the characters in this novel are bad. The good old doctor and his friends the magistrate and the priest are all decent. And then of course there is Ursule herself who is a stark contrast to the other would-be legatees. If anything, Ursule is too saccharine. She is beautiful (blonde and blue-eyed of course!), clever, talented, loving, kind, generous, pious, etc. etc. She never puts a foot wrong. Whilst I prefer humans to be a little more... human, complete with human foibles, her contrasting character makes sense in this context. It serves to amplify the baseness of the other characters. The prospective legatees project all their own worst attributes on the innocent (young, beautiful, etc. etc.) Ursule. And just when you think that they have done their worst, their behaviour and evil intentions become worse. But in spite of all this ugliness there is a good deal of humour and irony. There is even an element of suspense as the reader waits to see whether Ursule will survive the graspers' onslaught and whether by any chance her tormentors get their comeuppance. Will (excessive) piety triumph over evil? Will love win the day?

Balzac also injects an occult element into the tale. There is a chapter titled A Brief Digression on Magnetism followed by one titled A Double Conversion (both of which I found utterly silly) during which the atheist doctor re-evaluates his stance on the supernatural and religion (later in the novel there are more supernatural goings on). After reading these two chapters I nearly abandoned the novel, much as I like Balzac's writing. However, I persevered.

#
*I'm reading these novels and novellas out of chronological sequence as the mood takes me. The shorter works I'm reading in French and the longer ones in English.

[Elizabeth (Alaska) · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the early pages of reading this I knew this is why I read Balzac. In those first chapters he presented his characters, set the scene and established the plot in prose at once readable and complex. I was a bit disconcerted, however, because everything seemed too good and too easy - so unlike Balzac.

I need not have worried - as soon as I had those thoughts, Balzac turned the story inside out. Doctor Minoret's legal heirs couldn't trip over themselves quickly enough with their greed - and hate for Ursula - in acquiring wealth. Ursula is not his legal heir. The story is relatively short, and I can't tempt you any better than to say that much, and to say no more.

This, together with Eugénie Grandet, makes up Balzac's Scenes from Provincial Life. Eugenie Grandet - a full five stars - was my first Balzac. This is every bit as good. There are similarities as well as differences. I feel lucky to have found Balzac.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story. Greed, piety and both the good and bad sides of human nature or greed and virtue. The story was published in 1841 and is part of Balzac’s Scènes de la vie de province. The action takes place in Nemours, though with flashbacks to Paris. It is set in the years 1829–1837.

The story centres around Ursule. A major influence is the new Napoleonic Code and a law specifying that property and capital must be inherited solely via family connections. Dr Minoret is a widower whose children have died in infancy. Ursule is his niece, but she is his illegitimate protected god-daughter – not a natural heir. This means she will inherit nothing. In the village Minoret’s relatives have already divided up his wealth. Although they are concerned the doctor will work out a way to leave his niece his estate.

Ursule is brought up by her Godfather and two other elderly virtuous gentleman. There are some holes in the plot. The supernatural element and how the doctor suddenly goes from being an atheist to religious man due to magnetism. When the villain Mirouet-Levrault gets hold of the doctors will and destroys it. Surely a man as intelligent as the Doctor would have made a copy and lodged it with his friend the magistrate.

Putting those holes aside the story is excellent with remorse and guilt eating away the villainous Mirouet. The ending with the Desiree accident, the mother going insane and the change in the villains morality were entertaining. It was nice to have a happy ending for Ursule and Savinien.

[Ebru Çökmez · Rating 2 out of 5]

İnsanlik Komedyası'nin Taşra Hayatından Sahneler bölümü için yazılan bu roman, tüm Balzac külliyatı içinde sönük bir parça.
Gerçekçi romanın öncülerinden kabul edilen yazar, bu romanda iyi karakterlerinin hayatını (döneminde mutlaka "manyetizma" olarak tanimlanmiş) gerçeküstü öğeler yardimiyla düzeltirken böylelikle kötülerin hakkından da geliyor.

[Sarvenaz Taridashti · Rating 3 out of 5]

آیا همانقدر که نگاه ها در آفرینش عشق موثرند در بقای آن نیز موثر خواهند بود؟

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ursule Mirouët was written by the French writer Honoré De Balzac and published in 1841. It follows a man named Dr. Minoret and his young ward Ursule. When he dies his money is set to be inherited by various members of his greedy family who watch over his doings like vultures. Dr. Minoret wants to provide for Ursule however as she is his true ‘family’.

This is a novel of innocence pitted against greed. Materialism vs. spiritualism. Ursule is a sweet 15 year old girl who has been brought up sheltered and very loved. She is innocence incarnate. She feels very connected to the spiritual side of life and is devoted to God. Dr. Minoret’s family however are hyper focused on the material plane. They are selfish and all out for themselves.

This is a book about divine justice however. Karma. The moral of the story being that goodness will end up being rewarded and evil doers shall get punished.

I really loved this French classic. The themes I found to be powerful and I adored the protagonist Ursule. I know many people nowadays dislike female characters in classics who seem too ‘angelic’. Ursule was after all a sheltered 15 year old brought up very lovingly, so what else could you expect? I admired her kind heart and her connection to the divine however. Sometimes these ‘angelic’ characters can inspire us to be better human beings and I don’t see what’s wrong with that.

I also found Balzac to be phenomenal at description. He described the characters well, the way Ursule was dressed ( always fun for me since I love period clothing), the different rooms of Dr. Minoret’s house and the town of Nemours he brought to life. I love it when an author describes things well as it really helps make the story come alive.

This book was also really interesting as not only was there a bit of a focus on religion and connection to God, but there was also a bit of the occult thrown in there, which I didn’t expect. Dr. Minoret has an experience with magnetism that turns him from an atheist into a believer. Magnetism/mesmerism was really popular in the 19th century and had a lot to do with the power of suggestion and of our thoughts. Ursule also has psychic dreams.

Overall I really enjoyed this classic and highly recommend it. I can’t wait to read more of Balzac’s work in the future

[Armin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Balzac paart in der Comédie humaine gerne Gegensatzpaare mit einem gemeinsamen Nenner, gewissermaßen Antipodengeschichten, bei denen in der einen Aspekte in den Vordergrund treten, die in der anderen eine absolute Nebenrolle spielen. Eugénie Grandet und Ursule Mirouet bilden eine dieser Paarungen par excellence. Der gemeinsame Nenner, die beiden Titelheldinnen sind arme Mädchen, die reich erben. Der Unterschied: die unscheinbare Eugenie erbt zwar mit 17 Millionen einen Riesensumme, wurde durch ihren geldgeilen Vater und dessen armselige Wirtschaft derart seelisch verkrüppelt und geistig eingeschränkt, dass sie immer ein armes, reiches Mädchen bleiben wird, weil sie mit der späten Freiheit und den Reichtümeren nichts anfangen kann, da ihr mit Mitte zwanzig jegliche Perspektive über den kleinen Kreis hinaus fehlt.
Die Waise Ursula, die Nichte des reichen Arztes Mirouet erhält dagegen von ihrem Onkel eine umfassende Ausbildung und bringt als Erbschaft das musikalische Talent ihrer Eltern und hat ein blendendes Aussehen und ein treues Herz, sie liebt den Nachbarssohn Savinien, ein im Schuldturm gestrandetes Mitglied der jeunesse d'orée um Rastignac, de Trailles und Rubempré. Der arme Tollpatsch, der dumm genug war, sich beim rücksichtslosen Schuldenmachen erwischen zu lassen, bekommt sogar einen Mitleidsbesuch von seinen schlaueren Kumpanen, gewissermaßen die Schnittstelle zu Pére Goriot und Verlorene Illusionen etc. Gerettet wird der von seiner Mutter vollkommen verzogene Bursche aber nur durch ein Darlehen, das der alte Doktor auf Wunsch von Ursula zustande bringt. Auch wenn die adelsstolze Mutter erst einmal die Liebesheirat verhindert und später von den gierigen Erben des Doktors ruiniert wird, Ursula und Savinien lieben einander aufrichtig und der verwöhnte Bengel wird auf dem zweiten Bildungsweg noch ein Held. Später heiratet der Vicomte auch die Tochter eines Bastards, in diesem Punkt gibt es keinen Spannungsmoment, das Liebesglück, vom dem eine Eugénie Grandet nicht mal zu träumen wagt, ist nie durch Egoismen oder falschen Ehrgeiz bedroht, wohl aber von einer geldgeilen Verwandtschaft, deren Oberhaupt das Testament unterschlägt und eine Rufmordkampagne gegen Ursula anzettelt, die das sensible Mädchen an den Rand des Grabes treibt. Die Rettung kommt aus dem Jenseits, Visionen und Träume, in denen u.a. der Tote das Verbrechen aufklärt, spielen eine große Rolle. Am Ende schlägt auch die himmlische Gerechtigkeit gnadenlos zu, da der Übeltäter nicht rechtzeitig bereut, geht die nächste Generation zugrunde.
Die übersinnliche Ebene markiert einen weiteren signifikanten Unterschied zur gnadenlos realistischen Eugenie Grandet, deren magischen Erzählfluss Ursula leider nie erreicht. Der Roman um die Verbrechen der Verwandtschaft an einer unschuldigen Schönheit bleibt zu lange eine Aufeinanderfolge von Charakterportraits einer neidischen Kleinstadt und ist, für meinen Geschmack, am Ende zu linear-moralisch. Balzac ist besser, wenn die Bösen irgendwie davon kommen, auf wessen Kosten auch immer.

[George · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. An engaging story about Ursula Minouret, a young orphan girl who is cared for by Dr Minoret, Ursula’s godfather. Dr. Minoret is an old retired man who has no close relatives. He has no children of his own nor a wife. In his retirement he relocates from Paris to Nemours where his nephews and cousins live. The story begins in 1829 when Ursula is 15 years old.

The novel is about redemption and rebirth of individuals. These two themes are at the centre of the conflict over Dr. Minoret’s inheritance. Ursula is a pure soul who loves her benefactor. Dr. Minoret’s relatives, including the fierce, heartless, greedy, ambitious Zelie Minoret-Levrault, are very materialistic.

Ursula falls in love with Savinien, a young man born of a titled family. However he is in a Paris debtors prison at the beginning of the story. Savinien’s mother does not approve of her son marrying Ursula.

This book is another very good Balzac novel.

This book was first published in 1841.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not exactly what I would have expected from one of the fathers of Realism. Ursule Mirouet is part of of Balzac's Scenes from a Provincial Life, and the story seemed, for about half of the book or more, to unfold predictably enough. A good as gold (and beautiful) girl raised by her benevolent (but aged) godfather in a small French town teaming with petty jealousies. It's the late 1820s, and the shadow of the Revolution and Napoleon still haunt the land. The godfather (and physician) was a part of those great events, and is now a rich man. He has returned to the town of his youth, and his relatives have eyes on a piece of the eventual inheritance, which the doctor would prefer to bestow upon his beloved goddaughter, Ursule. As is the case with a Balzac novel, you have the great physical descriptions, colorful characters, and vicious intrigues. But as I said above, about at the half way point things get weird: magnetism (as a movement in France), second sight, a ghost, prophecy, and a bit of gothic gore, flip this story around. It makes for an uneven but still interesting read. I suppose one could read the weirdness as a part of "Provincial" life. I think Faulkner would agree.

[Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Balzac's work. His detailed realism of early 19th century France draws such a vivid image of life in that era. And yet I so often hate his "good guy" characters and the unconvincing moral development of his characters. For example, Ursula herself is an utterly flat character; she typifies the Perfectly Moral Lady of the era. She's also sort of annoyingly delicate and lacks sense in a way that Balzac seems to introduce merely as a plot device; it didn't make sense that someone as allegedly intelligent and educated as her would have reacted to her relatives' perfidy the way that she did. She exists to be a victim and isn't an agent in her own life. She's a piece of furniture in the story used to tell others' tales.

Anyway, Balzac does a marvelous job drawing more complex characters, including morally ambiguous and reprehensible ones. I think his flat characters are likely just a product of the time. I'm still a big fan of his work, but perhaps others more so than Ursula.

[Felipe Oquendo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Um livro à altura das tragédias gregas, fechando com uma justiça cósmica apoteótica. Personagens bem escritos, situações verossímeis ainda que excepcionais, bom ritmo, sobretudo na metade final do livro. A fealdade da alma pequeno burguesa só seria melhor explorada em Madame Bovary, após este livrinho.

Não se enganem: aqui temos, infelizmente, todos os defeitos do velho Balza, inclusive o narrador intrometido, as reiteraçoes e explicações que acabam com as sutilezas, dentre outros problemas (inclusive a repetição de palavras e as escolhas esquisitas de tempos verbais que a tradução brasileira sempre tenta corrigir, mas que acabam por transparecer para quem sabe bem francês).

A obra é grande apesar de Balzac. Está abaixo, a meu ver, apenas do Pai Goriot (porque sou um fã de finais tristes e cruéis e porque o narrador narigudo e reiterativo some, naquela obra, no momento certo). Onde está o Flaubert de nossa geração para recontar essa história como foi feito, em Madame Bovary, com a Mulher de 30 anos? Ou ao menos o cineasta que removeria as reiteracoes e a intromissão do narrador? É preciso que eles surjam.

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

In several of my Balzac reviews, I have noted the presence of a cabal that strives out of greed and envy to bankrupt the hero or heroine and enrich themselves at their expense. In most of the novels, the hero or heroine is totally undone. This, for example, is the case in Cousin Pons, the three novels making up Lost Illusions, Cousin Bette, and The Black Sheep.

In Ursule Mirouet, however, Honoré de Balzac takes a different tack altogether. In this sole case, the eponymous heroine ends up happy; and the guilty parties either confess and reform (in the case of Goupil), or they come to bad ends (as in Minoret-Levrault, his wife and son).

Balzac has always entertained a love for the bizarre. One finds it in Louis Lambert, The Centenarian (written under the pseudonym Horace de Saint-Aubin), and The Wild Ass's Skin, and one finds it here. There are chapters of Swedenborgian prophecies that turn out to be true; and their are vivid dreams in which the dead Dr Minoret explains how his nephew Minoret-Levrault looted his god-daughter Ursule's legacy. Even if it is by supernatural means, I was happy for once to see things turn out differently.

After a few excursions with Balzac in the provinces of France, I, for one, would hesitate to take up residence there.

[Davidg · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first Balzac for many years. It took a little getting re-acclimatised to the pace and nuances of early 19th century French society (for example, the use of the name Minoret, sometimes means the Doctor and sometimes the Postmaster).

When I first read Balzac, I preferred him to Dickens at times, because of his lack of sentimentality and that he doesn't always tie everything together in a neat happy ending. He is also more realistic in his characters, not having the gallery of characters that Dickens has; it does mean that there isn't as much humour in the Comedie Humaine. However, here we have the father of realistic literature, using devices like seances and talking with the dead to move the story forward; shades of Dickens' human combustion.

It is though, very much part of Balzac's greater project. We have the heirs of Dr Minoret plotting on how to get their inheritance and ensure that his ward Ursule gets as close to nothing as possible. They accuse her of all sorts of scheming, assuming that everybody is as greedy and grasping as they are. Ursule is perhaps too innocent, naive and good, but then she is only 15 and 16 in the greater part of the novel. Then there are the more minor character, such as Goupal, who aid the schemers. Dickens would have made them grotesques, but here they are much more recognisable rounded people.

A good read if not one of Balzac's absolute best.

[Thistle · Rating 2 out of 5]

The skeleton of a small town, Nemours. And yet, I struggled to feel the liveliness, the dynamism ,the operations even, of this town. Reading this piece, I felt like I was not reading a story as much as I was reading a frame. Rather than responding to events alongside characters, a reader is left feeling the construction of Balzac's plot has been learned and understood. I liken it a little to the discovery of some piece of historical knowledge that is known in its entirety (or at least as much we may say we know about a historical fragment). This is not an archeologist's first glimpses into an unknown civilization, a catalyst for further exploration and revelation. This is the acquisition of historical knowledge whose details are well recorded and in which we are told of consequences attributed to previous occurrences. We do not live through the discovery; we are shown the frame and accept it.

[Claudia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nuevamente la ambición y la avaricia se hacen presentes en esta historia, donde nos encontramos con una heroína llena de virtudes. En medio de todo aparece el amor.

[Constantin Vasilescu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mi-a lipsit Balzac. Cred ca de asta m-am si intors la el după aproape 15 ani. Sigur că nu are profunzimea altor mari autori. Dar ce are Balzac este acea unică teatralitate care aproape îi confundă literatura cu dramaturgia. Lectura cărţilor lui are ceva din bucuria întipărită pe chipul spectatorului dintr-o sală de teatru. Nu întâmplător romanele lui sunt printre cele mai reusite adaptări pentru teatru radiofonic. În plus, considerațiile memorabile ne arată negreșit cu cine avem de-a face.
Acum, Ursule Mirouet... nu e printre cele mai bune romane ale lui (dintre cele pe care le-am citit), dar, ca mai toate, este o poartă mereu deschisă către Franța primei jumătăți de secol XIX.
Pentru Balzac, in general, recomand edițiile vechi ale Comediei Umane (Univers, 1986), cu un aparat critic excelent care, deși fragmentează lectura, înlesnește înțelegerea unui univers atât de divers. Numai în Ursule Mirouet sunt trimiteri la termeni (magnetism, fluide imponderabile etc.), discipline (drept, istorie, medicină etc.) si personalități (politicieni, militari, magistrați, clerici, nobili etc.) de o diversitate derutantă. Notele sunt salvatoare în acest hățiș.
Romanele lui Blazac sunt, de multe ori, mai eficiente decât tratatele de istorie.

[Ali · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ursule Mirouet (1842)
دکتر همسر مرده ای به نام "دنیس منوره"، اورسولا را بزرگ می کند و از آنجا که میل دارد اورسولا وارث او باشد، با وجودی که تمامی عمر لامذهب بوده، در هشتاد و سه سالگی به مسیحیت می گرود و... اما نزدیکان دکتر که مدعی ثروت او هستند، وصیت نامه ی دکتر را می دزدند، و اورسولا پس از مرگ دکتر، فقیرتر از آن است که دکتر می پنداشته. با این همه نزدیکان دکتر به میراث او دست نمی یابند اما اورسولای فقیر، با مرد آرزویش، جوانی به نام ویسکون ساوینین که افسر ارتش است، ازدواج می کند. اورسولا میرو را روشن آغاخانی تحت عنوان اورسولا به فارسی برگردانده است.

در مورد بالزاک؛
https://www.goodreads.com/author_blog...

[Quinn Slobodian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rural French social classes moving like the Coney Island Cyclone. Old money now poor, new money, old poor money made new money again. All turns on a scrap of paper, a scrip, and eventually, beautifully, on a serial number penciled onto the end-sheets of a book. Libraries are bought at high prices only to be scoured for financial documents, furniture dismantled to find bonds, couches to find stocks. And in the middle of it all, a Swedenborgian psychic intervenes to take us by the hand and lead us to the good. We will never be as virginal and pure as Ursule but come now, medium, come anyway.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is little wonder that this story was stuck in limbo in Balzac's mind for six years before he finally penned it. There is a great amount of complexity in this story before its ultimate resolution.

The only reason I gave this a rating of 4 instead of 5 stars is due to the early portions where Balzac spends time laying out the family relations of the prime characters. It is essential to the story but I found myself being bogged down by the genealogy section.

[Jackson Cyril · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short novel, but which encompasses all the things we love in Balzac-- detailed descriptions of France, a profound knowledge of French law and a brilliant cast of characters. Balzac considered it one of his great masterpieces, and while I don't think this is his best, I won't dispute its brilliance.

[Catherine Vamianaki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ειναι γεγονός ότι διαβάζοντας τα έργα του Μπαλζακ ποτε δεν απογοητεύεσαι. Δεν θεωρείται απο τα αριστουργήματα του. Όμως, σε αυτό βλέπουμε ξανα την απληστία και την κακία κάποιων κληρονόμων ενός πλούσιου θείου και την αδικημένη Ούρσουλα.

[Velma · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first Balzac, and although I hear it's not his absolute best, it was a wild carriage-ride straight through 'til the surprise ending. Definitely more Balzac in my future.

[Julia Florek Turcan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book until the last few chapters with all that god nonsense. My overall impression after finishing: "Well, that sucked."

[Classic reverie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Balzac hands down is my favorite author and I would be amazed if that were ever to change. I have not yet read a story of his that did not touch my heart in some way. It took me quite awhile to read the first of his "scenes from provincial life", not that it was not interesting but illness dictates my life now. There is so much of human greed in this story which Balzac brings out concerning relatives acting like vultures to their bird of prey. Religious conversion from atheist to believer is especially heart warming to me, I aways love religion discussed in novels. This is the first time I remember that Balzac used the supernatural in his stories which from the beginning to the end is laced with this phenomenon. The decline of nobility in France and the changes in society are in play.

I did not read this edition but from a collection of his works which included these comments below.

"First published in 1841, this novel takes place in Nemours, a commune in the Seine-et-Marne department in north-central France, during the years 1829-1837. The narrative concerns Ursule, who has been brought up by Dr Minoret, an atheist and devoted student of the Encyclopédie. He has persisted in his rationalistic beliefs for over eighty years. However, at the beginning of the novel Dr Minoret is converted to Christianity by the example of Ursule’s piety."

"DEDICATION To Mademoiselle Sophie Surville, It is a true pleasure, my dear niece, to dedicate to you this book, the subject and details of which have won the approbation, so difficult to win, of a young girl to whom the world is still unknown, and who has compromised with none of the lofty principles of a saintly education. Young girls are indeed a formidable public, for they ought not to be allowed to read books less pure than the purity of their souls; they are forbidden certain reading, just as they are carefully prevented from seeing social life as it is. Must it not therefore be a source of pride to a writer to find that he has pleased you? God grant that your affection for me has not misled you. Who can tell? — the future; which you, I hope, will see, though not, perhaps. Your uncle, De Balzac."


Story in short- Doctor Minoret comes back to Nemours with a baby girl, the relatives are looking out to his fortune and scheming to possess it after his death.

“Of course I know,” said Madame Massin, “that the Abbe Chaperon is an honest man; but he is capable of anything for the sake of his poor. He must have mined and undermined uncle, and the old man has just tumbled into piety. We did nothing, and here he is perverted! A man who never believed in anything, and had principles of his own! Well! we’re done for. My husband is absolutely beside himself.”

"My heirs will have the capital I brought here with me; I wish them to know that, and to let me alone. If any one of them attempts to interfere with what I think proper to do for that young girl (pointing to Ursula) I shall come back from the other world and torment him. So, Monsieur Savinien de Portenduere will stay in prison if they count on me to get him out. I shall not sell my property in the Funds.” Hearing this last fragment of the sentence Ursula experienced the first and only pain which so far had ever touched her. She laid her head against the blind to steady herself."

“The house — the house is worth thirty thousand francs. I’ll take it at that,” said, or rather bellowed by Cremiere. “Well, we’ll take what it’s worth,” said Zelie, sharply. “Monsieur l’abbe,” said the old man to the priest, who remained beside his friend after administering the communion, “help me to die in peace. My heirs, like those of Cardinal Ximenes, are capable of pillaging the house before my death, and I have no monkey to revive me. Go and tell them I will have none of them in my house.”

❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌spoiler alert❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌

Savinien loves his aunt, Emilie de Fontaine, Kergarouet, the reader being familiar with her since her debut in "Ball at Scenux", she has become more unlikable but thankfully he finds the opposite character of goodness in Ursula.

I was glad Savinien's mother finally saw the goodness in her son to marry this orphaned girl. Ursula had a better compass than Clarissa Harlowe only because Savinien was worthy unlike Lovelace; Balzac has mentioned Richardson's Clarissa several times in his Human Comedy.

I was happy that Doctor Minoret found God and that the postmaster Minoret found peace/religion and by doing good the rest of his life.

Goupil reminds me of many villainous characters and his change for the better is welcomed.

Madame Minoret, I found though she did not burn the will and steal the certificates was worse than her husband's evil doing because when she found out, her greed dismissed all but her gain, despite her beloved son's future warning of death via a dream.

"PORTENDUERE (Vicomtesse Savinien de), wife of the preceding, born in 1814. The orphan daughter of an unfortunate artist, Joseph Mirouet, the military musician, and Dinah Grollman, a German; natural granddaughter of Valentine Mirouet, the famous harpsichordist, and consequently niece of the rich Dr. Denis Minoret; she was adopted by the last named, and became his ward, so much the more adored as, in appearance and character, she recalled Madame Denis Minoret, deceased. Ursule’s girlhood and youth, passed at Nemours, were marked alternately by joy and bitterness. Her guardian’s servants, as well as his intimate friends, overwhelmed her with indications of interest. A distinguished performer, the future viscountess received lessons in harmony from Schmucke, the pianist, who was summoned from Paris. Being of a religious nature, she converted Denis Minoret, who was an adherent of Voltaire’s teachings; but the influence she acquired over him called forth against the young girl the fierce animosity of Minoret-Levrault, Massin, Cremiere, Dionis and Goupil, who, foreseeing that she would be the doctor’s residuary legatee, abused her, slandered her, and persecuted her most cruelly. Ursule was also scornfully treated by Madame de Portenduere, with whose son, Savinien, she was in love. Later, the relenting of Minoret-Levrault and Goupil, shown in various ways, and her marriage to the Vicomte de Portenduere, at last approved by his mother, offered Ursule some consolation for the loss of Denis Minoret. Ursule Mirouet. "

I am glad that Savinien and Ursula found happiness and that Minoret was able to bring his life to good after causing so much harm. Goupil change for the better after almost killing Ursula with harassment. I felt sorry that Desire was killed because he really seemed harmless. Madame Minoret was worse than her husband because he was simple and after hearing about Desire's peril by a dream of Ursula did not need the warning. Minoret Levrault has several carriages that convey to different locations, he wants to have his son, Desire carry on but they sent him to law school and he has been flagrant in Paris. Counting on the rich uncle to leave money but another girl, Ursula walks him to church and they wonder about the money now. Doctor Minoret has moved back to his hometown and some relatives are given favors but he mostly wants to stay by himself with the little orphan girl named Ursula who is 10 months. Desire see Ursula and is surprised by her beauty but he loves Florine. All the relatives are vexed that Minoret the atheist is going to church. Minoret married but his wife died and none of his children survived. His father in law talked of his singer son who had a little girl with a German lady and both soon died and Minoret is her guardian. Him and his friends bring her up and though an atheist, he has the abbe instruct her. Years later she is upset because he does not believe. Minoret sees his friend Bouvard who is a mesmer friend who has a woman tell him what is happening in his home and what Ursula is saying. She loves a neighbor Savinien who is not thinking of her. Minoret after the vision told found out it was all correct by Ursula and slowly he is converted to believe. The relatives worry about the conversion to religion of their uncle and they look to see what can be done to decrease Ursula's influence. Minoret worries and Ursula hears him. The spokesman for the relatives finds out that Ursula turns pale when Savinien is mentioned in debtor's jail. Minoret and Ursula talk of the impossibility of the match because of her parents. The Abbe talks to Madame de Portenduere about raising money to get her son out of jail from Minoret, she slowly decided to do so. Her Portenduere relatives tried to get her long ago to put Savinien in a profession but she wanted him near her which later he wanted his freedom anyways and went to Paris. Savinien tells his mother that he will not dishonor his father. Savinien has fallen in love with Ursula on the trip from debtor's prison. Savinien's mother has insulted Minoret of underhanding motives helping with regard to Ursula. Minoret tells Savinien that it is better for him not to come. Ursula and Savinien's love grows and he decides to win her and though his mother does not want the marriage he goes into the Navy. The relatives are worried about their inheritance. Minoret is dying and the relatives are surrounding him but are told to leave; the postmaster quietly stays and hears Minoret tell Ursula about a letter which he steals. When Ursula looks for the letter but returns empty handed Minoret dies with anguish. The postmaster has stolen the letter which gives Ursula the will and he finds the bonds in books and steals them. Ursula is thrown out and buys a home near by and grieves her godfather's death. Savinien's mother needs to pay back the loan and the relatives are looking to ruin her as they are trying to find the money by ruining all the property of the late doctor. Minoret is cracking and trying to have Goupil marry Ursula to get rid of her. Goupil in secret finds way to kill Ursula with persecution saying things about her and that Savinien will never marry her. They try to find out the evil doer. Savinien's mother sees the ailing Ursula to tell her that she knows he is pure and they all knew; she approves of the marriage now. Goupil tells Savinien about Minoret and confronts the Minoret's which a duel between Savinien and Desire is demanded. Goupil tells a different story by being paid of by Minoret. Urusla has visions from her godfather who told her what had happened and to confront Minoret but afraid she tells the abbe. She then tells him of being told if Minoret does not give back what e has taken, Desire will die. The abbe told Minoret who the town notices his personality change but does not heed the advice to clear himself. A duel is set between Savinien and Desire for the wrongs of his father to Ursula. Minoret tells his wife all and she looks to marry Desire and Ursula and prevent the duel. Ursula refuses and loves only Savinien. The justice figures out the numbers in Minoret's books which shows the certificates that he bought. Madame Minoret is told about the evidence and that Desire will suffer for his parent's theft. When returning back to see her husband the carriage has an accident and Desire is killed days later from the injuries. Minoret becomes religious and helps Ursula. Ursula and Savinien marry.

[Karla Baldeon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review on Spanish.

Después de leer el libro de Balzac y la joven costurera china quise leer algunas obras que se mencionaban ahí y empecé por Úrsula Mirouet, ya que era muy mencionado en el libro y la protagonista lleva el nombre de mi sobrina.
Así que tenía muchas expectativas para este drama de época ubicado tras la revolución francesa. Puedo decir que era todo lo que esperaba de Balzac, una mujer joven y bella luchando a su manera con los prejuicios sociales y la envidia que la quieren ver destruida. A pesar de su comportamiento vulnerable, enfermizo y religioso, Úrsula logra sobreponerse a cada adversidad con una dignidad inculcada por su antiguo tío protector y una compasión aprendida por su preceptor religioso. Además logra obtener el amor del joven de su elección sobreponiéndose a las calumnias y a la discriminación por su clase social simplemente aguardando con paciencia y en silencio temas delicados que herirían más gravemente a su honra sino fuera porque contaba con unos pocos amigos leales que siempre la apoyaron y creían en su inocencia por completo.
De esta forma, sus enemigos, son rebajados al papel de lo más vicioso del alma humana, lo cual se incrementa en su ruindad siendo que están de alguna manera emparentados con la joven que quieren ver arruinada. Las calumnias que crean a su alrededor muestran la envidia femenina por su juventud y belleza, mientras que el robo de sus propiedades son simples actos de avaricia y mezquindad que nos lleva a odiar a sus detractores.
Si bien, no me parece un libro recomendable para mi sobrina en este momento de corta edad. Sí lo guardaré para unos años más adelante cuando su propia belleza (que estoy segura de que tendrá) y juventud comiencen a desatar sentimientos buenos o malos a su alrededor. Después de leer esta historia, estoy segura de que aprenderá que la belleza y la juventud llevadas de la mano de la dignidad y la compasión le abrirán el paso ante cualquier adversidad que el mundo le pueda lanzar en su camino, y así la recomiendo a todas las lectoras por igual.

[Melisa Fuentes Kren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Adquirí este libro hace poco tiempo, en una librería de usados. Para mí es muy difícil resistir la compra de un título de Balzac que no tenga todavía en mi biblioteca, porque soy una gran fan de su "Comédie humaine".
Para quienes no conozcan a este autor —uno de los más grandes exponentes del realismo francés, y definitivamente de la literatura universal—, monsieur Honoré es muy célebre por haberse propuesto el ambicioso proyecto literario de escribir nada más y nada menos que 137 novelas e historias interconectadas que retrataran la sociedad francesa de su tiempo. Si bien la muerte no le permitió completar esta titánica tarea, dejó escritas casi 100 obras.
Son muy pocas las que están disponibles en español y factibles de ser adquiridas en papel. Ursule Mirouët fue editada en 2011 por La Compañía de los Libros y recuerdo muy bien el día en que vi el libro en las estanterías de la librería Yenny, cuando estaba recién salido del horno. En ese momento no me daba el bolsillo para comprarlo nuevo, así que me quedé con la sangre en el ojo, coloquialmente hablando. Muchos años después apareció la oportunidad de adquirirlo a un valor prácticamente simbólico, y en excelente estado, así que no la dejé pasar.
Como en toda su producción literaria, Balzac es simplemente genial, y muestra una capacidad sublime para describir las miserias humanas, en este caso, en torno a la avaricia sin límites de los herederos del doctor Minoret. En medio de todo se encuentra su protegida, la pobre Ursule, y su enrevesada historia de amor. Además, esta novela en particular no se ciñe totalmente al realismo y da lugar en ciertas instancias a la fantasía, con algunos episodios en que las pseudo ciencias de ese entonces tienen protagonismo, y ciertos acontecimientos hacia el final de los que no daré muchos detalles para no "spoilear", pero que involucran sueños y aparecidos.
Como siempre Balzac es un 10 sobre 10, totalmente recomendado, y de quien seguiré a la caza de más de sus excepcionales obras.

[Jaime Fernández Garrido · Rating 4 out of 5]

La vigésimo novena escena de "La comedia humana" es una peculiar historia de amor con fantasmas. A priori, la novela "Ursule Mirouët" parece el relato de una huérfana que vive con su padrino y que, poco a poco, se va integrando en la vida del pueblo de Nemours y que se enamora de un vecino al que vislumbra a través de la ventana de su dormitorio.

Pero, en realidad, la novela comienza centrada en un grupo de personajes que poco tienen que ver, aparentemente, con Ursule, y que pronto descubrimos como futuros herederos del doctor Minoret, que la ha acogido. Unos herederos ambiciosos que harán cualquier cosa por quedarse con todo, incluso con aquello que no les pertenece.

El tío adoptivo se presenta inicialmente como un ateo descreído que se hará creyente para no fastidiar las ilusiones de Ursule y, sobre todo, por las supuestas pruebas del hipnotismo y el magnetismo que permiten conectar con espíritus, vivos y muertos, que serán realmente relevantes en el desarrollo de la trama, aportando un aspecto fantasmagórico-espiritual original dentro de la obra de Balzac.

Como es habitual en el autor, la descripción de los personajes es totalmente descarnada, tanto en los protagonistas como en los villanos, que en esta ocasión toman forma de ambiciosos herederos y de notarios, como Goupil, de quien tras su boda dice Balzac: "La señorita Massin aportaba ochenta mil francos y su fealdad, y Goupil llevaba sus deformidades y su notaría, por lo que esta unión fue juzgada probable y adecuada".

[Philipp Sorge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Naja die übernatürlichen Elemente scheinen etwas silly, aber whatever, und Ursule ist ein wenig zu… gut, aber so wird ein schöner Kontrast zu den anderen Erben des Dr. Minoret hergestellt, die Schmutz sind. Am Ende des Tages ist es Balzac, und der war ein großer Beobachter von Menschen und konnte sie aufs Papier bringen wie kein Zweiter.
Neben Eugenie Grandet die zweite der Scènes de la vie de province, und manche Sachen im Provinzleven ändern sich auch nicht zwischen Frankreich 1841 und Deutschland 2024. so wie die „aufmerksamen“ Nachbarn XD
Fazit: Balzac bleibt Balsam, holprige Alliteration hin oder her.

[Maan Kawas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed and loved this novel!

[Keen Reader · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 Stars!

It makes you wonder, what would the European authors of the 19th Century have done for material if it wasn’t for class snobbery and families squabbling over wealthy relatives wills?...

This is flawed, inconsistent and unconvincing in places and it wasn’t always easy to follow due to the crowded nature of the plot and the many circling vultures pushing their way into view
It becomes especially clumsy and a bit silly when it stumbles towards religion and the supernatural (Woooooo!). And the recklessness around the planning and execution of the will borders on the ridiculous.

So this is a decent and interesting read, and it does a good job of highlighting the horrors of greed, bureaucracy and snobbery, but it’s far from a classic. It wears its brash flaws awkwardly and the ending isn’t entirely convincing either, but it’s probably worth the read.