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HIS EVALUATION OF OTHER ARTISTS
Honoré de Balzac (1799-1850)
"The great French novelist Balzac was a monarchist in terms of his political views. He was expecting that the happiness of France would be realised by the return of monarchy and for the most part by the feudal relationships.
"But the novels of the monarchist Balzac are being read and appreciated by the founders of scientific socialism, such as Marx and Engels.
"How could this be?
""Balzac is a realist. The realism of the novelist Balzac was so powerful that from time to time this made him write such truths as do not accord with the views of the monarchist Balzac. The realistic novelist Balzac cast the monarchist reactionary Balzac into the background.
"The realistic novelist Balzac not only reflected French society as it was but he also managed to draw the fundamental lineages of the characters who were going to appear in French society long after him."
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