Honoré de Balzac

Issoudun holds a chosen place in Honoré de Balzac's universe. Mesmerized by the country and the social intrigues, the writer makes Issoudun the principal scene of his novel "La Rabouilleuse", published in 1842 and integrated to the Comédie Humaine. 

 

In this story, Balzac draws a sharp and lively portrait of the provincial society of the beginnig of the XIXth century. The main character, Jean-Jacques Rouget, wealthy bourgeois who is manipulated by the seducing Flore Brazier, who's nicknamed "La Rabouilleuse", Balzac describe with meticulousness the daily life in Issoudun, its street, its tradition and its familial rivalty.

 

Through this novel, Balzac takes Issoudun's soul and make it a provincial symbol, between ambition power and well-keeped secrets. As of today, the readers can browse through the town echoing his work and find the atmosphere that has inspire the writer.

 

Issoudun is not only the scene of the novel "La Rabouilleuse" (1842) by Honoré de Balzac : the town is also linked to the writer through his frienship with Zulma Carraud. Woman of Letter and a big friend of Balzac, she resides in Nohant-en-Graçais, not far from Issoudun. She was a precious confidente for the writer, and had a rich correspondance. Adviser, she would guide Balzac in his work and had a critic look upon his work. 

 

In "La Rabouilleuse", Balzac is inspired by Issoudun to describe the provincial society of the XIXth century, an atmosphere that he known due to his correspondance with Zulma Carraud. Thus, the litterary history of Issoudun is closely linked to this frienship, which has nurrished one of the master piece of the Comédie Humaine.