Honore de Balzac 
Cousin Bette 

The crown jewel in a remarkable literary career, Cousin Bette is regarded by many critics to be Balzac’s last great work before his death in 1850. A fine example of European realist fiction, the story recounts the attempt of a disgruntled housewife to bring about the misery and destruction of her entire extended family. Fans of Tolstoy’s War and Peace will enjoy Cousin Bette.