Honore de Balzac (1799-1850)

A chronicler of the human comedy. W. Somerset Maugham said: "His greatness lies not in a single work, but in the formidable mass of his productiom." Balzac created two-thousand characters ranging from innkeepers, clerics, journalists, bureaucrats, merchants, and prostitutes. They were so lifelike even Balzac believed in them. While dying, he called for his medical character: "Send for Biachon" he implored. "Biachon will save me."