The Magic Skin, Honoré de Balzac

Image via WikipediaAfter reading my latest Tarzan book, I thought I'd go into another one. However, as I got into it, I found it wanting. That is to say, the nearly empty calories of a Tarzan book are great after a substantial read, a rest or respite after a heavier book, it is quite delightful: like a bit of dessert.

Thus, I wandered throughout my now substantial collection of some 135 books on my Kindle before coming to rest on a Honoré de Balzac's book, The Magic Skin. Wikipedia's article on Balzac says, "He is renowned for his multi-faceted characters, which are complex, morally ambiguous and fully human." Burroughs' characters are often roughly two dimensional: the antagonists are so shallow that it can actually be a bit difficult to digest. Balzac and Burroughs are definitely diametrically opposite to each other.

We are first acquainted with the protagonist as he enters a gambling hall. In fact, in the version on my Kindle writes 'gambling hell,' which seems like it might be a typo. In any case, the man goes in with a single golden coin. When he deposits it on the roulette table, on black, it is almost as if he is saying, 'heads I live, tails I die.' When it lands on 'tails, I die,' he makes his way out of the casino.

He makes a conscious decision to wait until the anonymity of night before he casts his life away in the Louvre. Coincidentally, as he looks for something to distract his attention, he finds an antique shop with all manner of historical interest and wealth, art and weapon, so many noted piece-by-piece. Until at last he comes to a piece he cannot see, whereupon curiosity sends the guide to his master.

The master reveals a skin that allegedly grants its owner a series of wishes. Unbelieving, our protagonist rattles off a dozen wishes before the proprietor cuts him off. He promises that these wishes shall all come true, including his wish to die. It is an ominous beginning. One must wonder if the protagonist would have been better off dead, floating anonymously down the Louvre than to follow this new path which we're about to explore.

After an interesting set-up, Balzac takes us to the story that led Raphael to the decision of trying to end his life. He becomes obsessed with winning the affection of a woman who thinks very little of him. Though not rich, he does everything he can to conceal this fact. His utter failure results in his wanting death.

However, now with the magic skin in his possession, his wishes for wealth and recognition quickly come true. Everything he wanted comes to him. Every wish he makes shrinks the skin. As such, he believes in the power of the skin. He tries to shelter himself from the world, but is ultimately dragged back out into it when the new girl he loves, Pauline, comes back into his life. They love each other truly, but his fear of the side-effect of the skin once it has diminished entirely destroys their relationship.

One very interesting passage that I ran into that was very interesting was when he brought the magical skin to a scientist. His words, a criticism of science, was quite interesting. He said that too often scientists rely on the words and vocabulary invented by men as a substitute for knowledge and power.

Regardless of the degree or type of scientist, there is nothing that Raphael can do to stretch out the magical skin. His fate, he ultimately realizes, is sealed. But before he does that, he makes an effort at healing himself in a health spa. Ironically, the same people who would have rejected him for his poverty, in this case, reject him for his wealth. One becomes so brash as to duel with him. Raphael fills his gun with the musket ball first, and the powder second. Despite this, and the fact that he does not aim the gun, his wish is granted to him and his opponent is shot through the heart.

This book was really great. Balzac is a true master of literature. I highly recommend this book.