Honoré de Balzac – derrickjknight

Droll Tales 29 Complete Text

In response to popular request I am happy to provide the last page of Balzac’s Tale ‘Innocence’.

For ease of reference I am showing all three pages together.

“Desperate Love”, “Despair in Love”, and “Love’s Despair” are the varied title translations of the last story in the second Decade of Honoré de Balzac’s largely scurrilous selection, illustrated respectively by

Mervyn Peake, with his mastery of the simple line;

by Gustave Doré with his packed detail;

and by Jean de Bosschère who produces his own particular interpretation.

This is a short story telling of a handsome and melancholy young man enamoured of a great lady, yet becoming tongue-tied and limp-limbed when attempting to translate the fiercely erotic energy imbued into his skilful sculpting to the wooing of the tantalising temptress.

Further details of each of these publications is given in https://derrickjknight.com/2023/01/06/droll-tales-1/except that the second Decade is published by New York’s Covici, Friede in 1929. It is America’s first edition thus and is a limited copy. The illustrations are not protected by tissue but the book’s condition is quite good and covered by a cellophane wrapper.

Droll Tales 17

There is no illustration by Mervyn Peake in the Folio Society edition of the 7th of the second Decade of these tales, entitled “An Expensive Night of Love”.

This publisher is perhaps choosing to head the story unambiguously, unlike the publishers of Gustave Doré (The Dear Night of Love)

or of Jean de Bosschère (A Dear Night of Love), each of whom follows the example of the double entendre style of the author, Honoré de Balzac, who, with his usual clever, fluent, prose, conveys descriptions of manipulation of events and romantic dalliance conducted, before the protagonists are able to come to grips with each other, by means of lustful glances and gestures to rival those of Tom Finney and Joyce Redman in

Droll Tales 16

The Folio Society edition of the sixth tale of the second Decade of Balzac’s collection of Droll Tales has three extra words, as bracketed here, “The Danger of being too (much of an) Innocent”, included in the title, which are not included by the other two publishers featured.

Here is Mervyn Peake’s drawing for Folio;

Gustave Doré has produced three pictures for The Bibliophilist Society;

and Jean de Bosschère one for Covici Friede.

The story tells of the parental figures’ control of the childhoods of the young subjects of an arranged marriage; the first nights of the bride and groom; their ignorance of what each was to expect of the other between the sheets; their seeking instruction from older teachers; and the subsequent outcome.

Droll Tales 14

There was no Mervyn Peake illustration to the fourth tale, entitled by The Folio Society “The Building of Azay Castle” from the second Decade of Balzac’s collection.

This was more than compensated for by Gustave Doré in what his publishers called “How the Chateau d’Azay came to be built.

Jean de Bosschère’s publishers showed the same title, which is in fact really more accurate, given that this really has nothing to do with building but all to do with the decision to build it.

With all the author’s fluent prose and a smattering of double entendre, he tells of the resourcefulness; obsession with a beautiful, older, woman; the sexual prowess; a bet ultimately lost, yet made good by a clever cryptic account, of a poverty-stricken young man.

Droll Tales 12

The second Tale of the second Decade of Honoré de Balzac’s Droll Tales bears the title “King Francis’s Short Commons” in the Folio Society edition

illustrated by Mervyn Peake.

This is a very short story concerning the French King’s spell of captivity in Madrid by the Emperor Charles the Fifth, during which his short commons were relieved by a series of ladies encouraging him to select a preference between those of France and of Spain.

The publishers of both Gustave Doré’s

and Jean de Bosschère’s pictorial interpretations each adopted “The Continence of King Francis the First”.

Droll Tales 11

This, the first story of the second Decade of Honoré de Balzac’s humorous collection of stories, entitled “The Three Students of St Nicholas’s” by The Folio Society, which has no illustration, seems a deviation in style and content by the author.

The three students are really foils to bring out the jolly, rumbustious, devious, scheming nature of Landlord of the Three Barbels described with rich imagery in the opening paragraphs.

The tale tells of their competition to outwit him and his ultimate response.

I spent some time trying to add Alun Armstrong’s superb performance of “Master of the House” from the 1985 stage musical of Les Misérables ( https://youtu.be/EDSDY9dMwxE ) This was unavailable for transfer, but I recommend it to you if you can view it.

Armstrong could well have modelled for Doré’s 1874 illustration from “The Three Clerks of St Nicholas” as his publisher entitled it.

Those of Jean de Bosschère appear in the similarly entitled publication of 1929 by New York’s Covici, Friede.

Further details of each of these publications is given in https://derrickjknight.com/2023/01/06/droll-tales-1/ except that the second Decade is published by New York’s Covici, Friede in 1929. It is America’s first edition thus and is a limited copy. The illustrations are not protected by tissue but the book’s condition is very good and covered by a cellophane wrapper.

Droll Tales 10

The constant cold we are currently experiencing at home is becoming energy sapping enough for me to stay indoors and read more of Balzac’s Droll Tales.

The Folio Society have opted for the title Last Word for the tenth tale in the first Decade of Honoré de Balzac’s characteristically amusing stories.

This is a short account of unrequited lust, teasing temptation, crafty cuckolding, hopeless hatred and craving for vengeance, in what is presented as a warning lesson.

Here is Mervyn Peake’s sensitive illustration to the Folio Society edition.

Gustave Doré’s publishers have named the story “The Reproach”,

while the Bodley Head, for whom Jean de Bosschère provided the picture, prefer “The Rebuke”.

Further details of each of these publications is given in https://derrickjknight.com/2023/01/06/droll-tales-1/

This evening we all dined on Jackie’s flavoursome chicken and vegetable stewp with which she drank Hoegaarden and I drank more of the Syrah.

Droll Tales 9

The ninth tale in the first Decade of Balzac’s collection of bawdy tales contains snippets of the life of a worldly cleric which to my mind to not constitute a coherent whole.

Entitled The Curé of Azay-Le-Rideau by the Folio Society (featuring

Despite her great timidity the fair maid at once laced laced her plump arms about her horseman's breast-plate

an illustration by Mervyn Peake),

and by The Bodley Head featuring one by Jean de Bosschère;

and The Vicar of Azay-Le-Rideau by The Bibliophilist Society’s

edition featuring Gustave Dorés work.

Further details of each of these publications is given in https://derrickjknight.com/2023/01/06/droll-tales-1/

Droll Tales 5

The fifth tale in the first Decade of these stories by Honoré de Balzac is entitled variously as respectively accompanying each of the featured illustrators.

In profusely romping prose presented with humorous wit, similes and metaphors galore the author makes us privy to a right royal extended poo joke of a king known for his loose, licentious, living and propensity for practical pranks.