the lesser bourgeoisie

The Lesser Bourgeoisieby Honore de BalzacTranslated by Katharine Prescott WormeleyDEDICATIONTo Constance-Victoire.Here, madame, is one of those books which come into the mind,whence no one knows, giving pleasure to the author before he canforesee what reception the public, our great present judge, willaccord to it. Feeling almost certain of your sympathy in mypleasure, I dedicate the book to you. Ought it not to belong toyou as the tithe formerly belonged to the Church in memory of God,who makes all things bud and fruit in the fields and in theintellect?A few lumps of clay, left by Moliere at the feet of his colossalstatue of Tartuffe, have here been kneaded by a hand more daring...