A review by msgtdameron
The Memoirs of Two Young Wives by Honoré de Balzac

emotional reflective medium-paced

4.0

Balzac wrote a great piece of psychological thought.  Thought into the meaning of Love.  Much of the work concerns love and what is love.  Both characters keep trying to define love for themselves and each other.  Louise, finds love as a whirlwind of sexual tension.  Where getting the man to be your lover and slave to that love is prime.  Renne, finds herself in a loveless marriage, at least from her perspective, but it is a marriage that is honorable for both her and her family.  Louise grows to actually love her second husband as a man, but becomes jealous with out investigation.  He has turned the tables on Louise by making her the one who is the slave in the relationship.  Renne has children and loves them as a mother should, she learns to love her husband, and use her connection with Louise to promote him at Court.  The end is well done Louise dies as a moth would when drawn to the flame.  She lived fast died at 30 and left a beautiful memory.  Renne buries Louise, then runs to her children and husband.  The whole psychology of both women as they get to the end is truly fascinating and well written.