Sarrasine is a novella written by French author Honoré de Balzac in 1830. The story takes place in Paris and revolves around the artist Sarrasine, who becomes infatuated with a young singer named La Zambinella. Sarrasine's obsession leads him to discover a shocking secret about La Zambinella's true gender, which ultimately leads to tragic consequences.
The novella explores themes of gender, sexuality, and identity, as well as the power dynamics between men and women in society. Balzac's vivid descriptions of the Parisian art world and the city's social hierarchy provide a rich backdrop for the story's events.
Sarrasine is considered one of Balzac's most daring and controversial works, and its exploration of taboo subjects caused a stir when it was first published. However, its complex characters and themes have made it a classic of French literature, and it continues to be studied and analyzed by scholars and readers today.
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