Synopsis Cousin Pons is a music teacher whose only joy in his long life has been collecting art. His collection, now worth a small fortune, is the focus of greed and rivalry among the various family members and hangers-on, and Pons's attempts to outwit them fail dismally. Upon his death, and against his wishes, his fortune goes to those he had tried desperately to thwart. The novel's plot vividly illustrates Balzac's belief that people who are raised in a grasping and materialistic society are incapable of any other kind of behavior--but this bleak view is mitigated somewhat by Balzac's depiction of Pons himself as a sweet, moral, and generous character.
| Details | | Publication Date: | 1978-08-01 | | Series: | Penguin Classics Series |
| Size | | Height: | 7.8 in | | Width: | 5.0 in | | Thickness: | 0.8 in | | Weight: | 8.0 oz |
Publisher's Note Pons, a mild-mannered old man, is treated with spiteful contempt by his wealthy relations.
| See an error? Submit a change request |