Lost Illusions by Honore de Balzac is one of the cornerstone works of his vast literary cycle La Comedie Humaine and a powerful critique of 19th-century French society The novel follows the journey of Lucien de Rubempre a young and ambitious poet from the provinces who moves to Paris in pursuit of literary fame Through his experiences in the corrupt worlds of journalism and publishing Balzac exposes the moral compromises shifting loyalties and th...