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Two Brothers

Two Brothers

By: Honoré de Balzac
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 “The Two Brothers” (1842) is a captivating piece from Balzac’s monumental series, “The Human Comedy.” Originally titled “La Rabouilleuse” in French, it has also been known as “The Black Sheep” and “A Bachelor’s Establishment” in various English translations. Delving deep into the complexities of family dynamics, Balzac paints a vivid picture of strained relationships among parents, children, and siblings. Set in a small town in post-Napoleonic France, a father’s mistaken belief about his daughter’s legitimacy leads to her being raised by her in-laws in Paris. As she grows up, marries, and becomes a mother to two sons, she unwittingly favors one, a selfish and cruel boy, while overlooking her other son, who has become a feckless non-entity vulnerable to manipulation, including by an alluring servant girl dubbed “La Rabouilleuse.” The plot thickens when the Parisian branch of the family returns, seeking a share of the late father’s inheritance, setting the stage for drama and intrigue. - Summary by Bruce PirieCopyright 19th and 20th Century Fiction
Episodes
  • 017 - Chapter 17

    017 - Chapter 17
    Feb 21 2026
    “The Two Brothers” (1842) is a captivating piece from Balzac’s monumental series, “The Human Comedy.” Originally titled “La Rabouilleuse” in French, it has also been known as “The Black Sheep” and “A Bachelor’s Establishment” in various English translations. Delving deep into the complexities of family dynamics, Balzac paints a vivid picture of strained relationships among parents, children, and siblings. Set in a small town in post-Napoleonic France, a father’s mistaken belief about his daughter’s legitimacy leads to her being raised by her in-laws in Paris. As she grows up, marries, and becomes a mother to two sons, she unwittingly favors one, a selfish and cruel boy, while overlooking her other son, who has become a feckless non-entity vulnerable to manipulation, including by an alluring servant girl dubbed “La Rabouilleuse.” The plot thickens when the Parisian branch of the family returns, seeking a share of the late father’s inheritance, setting the stage for drama and intrigue. - Summary by Bruce Pirie
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    1 hr and 5 mins
  • 016 - Chapter 16

    016 - Chapter 16
    Feb 21 2026
    “The Two Brothers” (1842) is a captivating piece from Balzac’s monumental series, “The Human Comedy.” Originally titled “La Rabouilleuse” in French, it has also been known as “The Black Sheep” and “A Bachelor’s Establishment” in various English translations. Delving deep into the complexities of family dynamics, Balzac paints a vivid picture of strained relationships among parents, children, and siblings. Set in a small town in post-Napoleonic France, a father’s mistaken belief about his daughter’s legitimacy leads to her being raised by her in-laws in Paris. As she grows up, marries, and becomes a mother to two sons, she unwittingly favors one, a selfish and cruel boy, while overlooking her other son, who has become a feckless non-entity vulnerable to manipulation, including by an alluring servant girl dubbed “La Rabouilleuse.” The plot thickens when the Parisian branch of the family returns, seeking a share of the late father’s inheritance, setting the stage for drama and intrigue. - Summary by Bruce Pirie
    Show More Show Less
    53 mins
  • 015 - Chapter 15

    015 - Chapter 15
    Feb 21 2026
    “The Two Brothers” (1842) is a captivating piece from Balzac’s monumental series, “The Human Comedy.” Originally titled “La Rabouilleuse” in French, it has also been known as “The Black Sheep” and “A Bachelor’s Establishment” in various English translations. Delving deep into the complexities of family dynamics, Balzac paints a vivid picture of strained relationships among parents, children, and siblings. Set in a small town in post-Napoleonic France, a father’s mistaken belief about his daughter’s legitimacy leads to her being raised by her in-laws in Paris. As she grows up, marries, and becomes a mother to two sons, she unwittingly favors one, a selfish and cruel boy, while overlooking her other son, who has become a feckless non-entity vulnerable to manipulation, including by an alluring servant girl dubbed “La Rabouilleuse.” The plot thickens when the Parisian branch of the family returns, seeking a share of the late father’s inheritance, setting the stage for drama and intrigue. - Summary by Bruce Pirie
    Show More Show Less
    45 mins
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