At the Sign of the Cat and Racket
In a crumbling old house on the Rue Saint-Denis, a prosperous Paris draper lives above his shop with his wife and two daughters. The younger, Augustine, is seen at a window one rainy morning by a young painter, Théodore de Sommervieux, who falls in love with her and exhibits her portrait at the Salon. They marry, and the story follows what happens when a shopkeeper's daughter enters the world of artists and aristocrats. Balzac wrote the tale in 1829 and placed it first among the Scenes of Private Life in his Human Comedy. It is short, exact and unsentimental about the gap between two kinds of upbringing. This edition presents Clara Bell's translation. It is available to read online in your browser on Vinteuil, with the first chapter free.
Start reading right away, without signing up. The complete text is included in Vinteuil Reading, or yours forever with a one-time purchase.
Frequently asked questions about At the Sign of the Cat and Racket
At the Sign of the Cat and Racket by Honoré de Balzac can be read online on Vinteuil, directly in your browser. The first chapter is free for everyone; the complete book is included in Vinteuil Reading ($4.99/month or $39.99/year) or yours forever for $2.99.
Can I read At the Sign of the Cat and Racket online?
Yes. At the Sign of the Cat and Racket opens right on this page, in a reader designed for long reading: adjustable text size, light, sepia and dark themes, a clickable table of contents and your place saved when you are signed in. No download or app is needed.
Is At the Sign of the Cat and Racket free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of At the Sign of the Cat and Racket is free, without an account. To read the whole book, either buy its online reading for $2.99 (£2.99 in the UK) and keep it forever, or subscribe to Vinteuil Reading for $4.99/month (£4.99/month in the UK) or $39.99/year, with 1 month free for new subscribers. The subscription opens every book in the library and can be cancelled at any time.
Is At the Sign of the Cat and Racket in the public domain?
Yes. At the Sign of the Cat and Racket by Honoré de Balzac is a public-domain work, here in the translation by Clara Bell. Vinteuil offers a carefully prepared digital edition made for comfortable reading on screen.
How long does it take to read At the Sign of the Cat and Racket?
About 1 h 26 min of reading, at an average reading pace. Your place is saved automatically when you are signed in, so you can read in several sittings and on several devices.
What kind of book is At the Sign of the Cat and Racket?
At the Sign of the Cat and Racket by Honoré de Balzac is filed under "Fiction" in the Vinteuil library.
