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Of all of Balzac's novel, "Lost Illusions" is my absolute fave (I've reread it about 5 times). The story of a young man, the preternaturally beautiful Lucien Chardon (de Rubempre), a fledgling poet who wants to escape his provincial life in the town of Angouleme, and dreams of literary success and hobknobbing with the beau monde, the wealthy, and the literati in the grand salons in the big city of Paris (much like any of us who grew up in small towns and cities and dreamt of leaving for something bigger and better in the 'big cities'). Attracting the attention (and amorous affections) of an Angouleme provincial aristocrat, Madame de Bargeton, he achieves a modicum of success in her salon, but is subjected to a fair amount of ridicule and suspicion. After being set up by his detractors that causes a scandal, he is whisked off to the big city of Paris by his paramour, only to be unceremoniously dumped and forced to eke out a meager and harsh living, shattering the "illusions" of his youth. Little by little, Lucien's innocence of youth is stripped away as he is forced to make difficult (and often bad) decisions, becoming caught up in the swirl (and the game) of the big city, only to come away bitter and disillusioned. An excellent novel that comes highly recommended!