The Fatal SkinSet in early 19th-century Paris, it tells the story of a young man who finds a magic piece of shagreen that fulfills his every desire. For each wish granted, however, the skin shrinks and consumes a portion of his physical energy. Bent on killing himself by throwing himself into the Seine after losing his shirt at the gaming tables, Raphael de Valentin, the romanticised, doomed young hero of Balzac's early novel, 'La Peau de chagrin' (1831), turns into an antiques shop to while away the hours till darkness (when he can be sure not to be rescued). There he finds himself in an emporium of civilisation's treasures, from all over the world and in every marvellous material, executed to the highest degree of human art. Eventually, the eerie, wizened keeper appears and shows Valentin the magic skin which gives the novel its title. It's the hide of a wild ass and, like the ring of the Nibelungen, has the power to grant its owner every wish. But in return it will take possession of Valentin, body and soul. Every time it performs, it will shrink and Valentin's life will shorten in accord. |
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admiration answered Aquilina arms arquebus asked Balzac beautiful become carriage cast charm child Claude Vignon colours Countess cried croupier death delights door dreams dress Emile endeavoured Euphrasia everything exclaimed expression eyes face fancy Fatal Skin father feel felt Feodora flowers fortune francs friends girl give glance hair hand happiness head heart HONORÉ DE BALZAC human idea imagination Jean-Jacques Rousseau Jonathan July Revolution kind laugh light lips live looked lorgnette lover luxury Madame mind monomania Monsieur nature never night onager orgy Paris passion Pauline Pauline's peer of France piece of shagreen Place de Grève Planchette pleasure Porriquet possessed Priapus Raphael Rastignac replied round Saint-Quentin seemed silence sleep smile soul talisman tell things thought thousand took turned Valentin voice wealth whole wish woman women words young