At the Sign of the Cat and Racket

The novella explores the contrasting worlds of the idealistic artist Théodore de Sommervieux and the practical Augustine Guillaume, daughter of a cloth merchant. Set against the backdrop of early 19th-century France, it delves into themes of social class, ambition, and the complexities of love. As part of Balzac's La Comédie humaine, it provides insight into the intricacies of human relationships and societal expectations during that era.