“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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