{"product_id":"sarrasine-9781513269542","title":"Sarrasine","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eSarrasine\u003c\/i\u003e (1831) is a novella by French author Honor  de Balzac. Written as part of his \u003ci\u003eLa Com die humaine\u003c\/i\u003e sequence, \u003ci\u003eSarrasine\u003c\/i\u003e is one of Balzac's earliest works published without a pseudonym and helped to establish his reputation as a serious writer and distinguished member of Parisian high society. Noted for its controversial exploration of homosexuality and castration, Balzac's novella would become the subject of Roland Barthe's groundbreaking work of literary criticism, \u003ci\u003eS\/Z\u003c\/i\u003e (1970).\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eComposed as a frame narrative, \u003ci\u003eSarrasine\u003c\/i\u003e begins during a ball at the mansion of the wealthy Monsieur de Lanty. The unnamed narrator, from a window overlooking the garden, listens to the conversations of partygoers and watches as his guest, Beatrix Rochefide, is approached by a mysterious older man. The next night, the narrator tells Beatrix a story involving the man, a respected member of de Lanty's circle. He begins with the life of Ernest-Jean Sarrasine, a successful young sculptor who, on a trip to Rome, fell in love with an opera star named Zambinella. Convinced she represents the ideal feminine form, he rejects Zambinella's misgivings and vague excuses, becoming increasingly obsessed with the beautiful singer. Devising a plan to kidnap Zambinella during a party at the French embassy, Sarrasine discovers the truth: the singer is a castrato, a classical operatic performer who was selected and castrated before puberty. \u003ci\u003eSarrasine\u003c\/i\u003e, a powerful novella, explores themes of idealization and obsession while illuminating the conflation of sex and gender.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eWith a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Honor  de Balzac's \u003ci\u003eSarrasine\u003c\/i\u003e is a classic of French literature reimagined for modern readers.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/sureshotbooks-com.myshopify.com\/search?type=product%2Carticle%2Cpage\u0026amp;q=AUTH-13284578\"\u003eHonoré de Balzac\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Mint Editions\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 12\/01\/2020\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 36\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.10lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 8.00h x 5.00w x 0.08d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781513269542\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN10:\u003c\/b\u003e 1513269542\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBISAC Categories:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e- \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/sureshotbooks-com.myshopify.com\/search?type=product%2Carticle%2Cpage\u0026amp;q=CAT-FIC\"\u003eFiction\u003c\/a\u003e | \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/sureshotbooks-com.myshopify.com\/search?type=product%2Carticle%2Cpage\u0026amp;q=BISAC-FIC019000\"\u003eLiterary\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e- \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/sureshotbooks-com.myshopify.com\/search?type=product%2Carticle%2Cpage\u0026amp;q=CAT-FIC\"\u003eFiction\u003c\/a\u003e | \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/sureshotbooks-com.myshopify.com\/search?type=product%2Carticle%2Cpage\u0026amp;q=BISAC-FIC014000\"\u003eHistorical | General\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e- \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/sureshotbooks-com.myshopify.com\/search?type=product%2Carticle%2Cpage\u0026amp;q=CAT-FIC\"\u003eFiction\u003c\/a\u003e | \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/sureshotbooks-com.myshopify.com\/search?type=product%2Carticle%2Cpage\u0026amp;q=BISAC-FIC101020\"\u003eWorld Literature | France | 19th Century\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Mint Editions","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42662372081901,"sku":"9781513269542","price":4.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0550\/8097\/6621\/products\/img_dfacd3af-612e-4b99-9e41-8b37ea228987.jpg?v=1649383634","url":"https:\/\/sureshotbooks.com\/products\/sarrasine-9781513269542","provider":"SureShot Books Publishing LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}