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{{short description|Short story by Honoré de Balzac}}
{{short description|Short story by Honoré de Balzac}}
{{More citations needed|date=May 2021}}{{Infobox book

{{Infobox book
| name = La Grande Bretèche
| name = La Grande Bretèche
| title_orig =
| title_orig =
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| followed_by = [[La Grenadière]]
| followed_by = [[La Grenadière]]
}}
}}
'''''La Grande Bretèche''''' is a short story by [[Honoré de Balzac]] published in [[1831 in literature|1831]]. It is one of the ''Scènes de la vie privée'' of ''[[La Comédie humaine]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1968|accessdate=16 April 2018|title=''The Human Comedy: Introductions and Appendix''|author=Honoré de Balzac|publisher=Project Gutenberg}}</ref>
'''''La Grande Bretèche''''' is a short story by [[Honoré de Balzac]] published in [[1831 in literature|1831]]. It is one of the ''Scènes de la vie privée'' of ''[[La Comédie humaine]]''.<ref>{{cite book|url=http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1968|accessdate=16 April 2018|title=''The Human Comedy: Introductions and Appendix''|author=Honoré de Balzac|publisher=Project Gutenberg}}</ref>


== Plot ==
== Plot ==
Dr. Horace Bianchon discovers near the town of [[Vendôme]] an abandoned manor: La Grande Bretèche. Intrigued by the ruins, the doctor tries unsuccessfully to enter the house night after night. Upon returning to the inn where he is staying, he questions the locals about the house. Finally several locals, including a lawyer and the innkeeper, explain the story of the manor.
Dr. Horace Bianchon discovers near the town of [[Vendôme]] an abandoned manor: La Grande Bretèche. Intrigued by the [[ruins]], the doctor tries unsuccessfully to enter the house night after night. Upon returning to the inn where he is staying, he questions the locals about the house. Finally several locals, including a lawyer and the innkeeper, explain the story of the manor.


Madame de Merret, the late owner of the manor, forbade anyone from entering the house upon her death, be it workmen, visitors, or government officials, for 50 years. The lawyer was given the task, as well as funds, to ensure that her dying wish be accomplished.
Madame de Merret, the late owner of the manor, forbade anyone from entering the house upon her death, be it workmen, visitors, or government officials, for 50 years. The lawyer was given the task, as well as funds, to ensure that her dying wish be accomplished.


Dr. Bianchon learned that Madame de Merret had a Spanish lover for a short period of her life. One day, Madame de Merret's husband returned early from a business trip when her lover was at the house. The lover hid himself in the closet, but the husband, hearing a sound, confronted his wife about the noise. Pressured by her suspicious husband, Madame de Merret swore upon a crucifix that there was no one in the closet, but threatened in turn to leave her husband if he were ever to open the closet out of suspicion. In response, Monsieur de Merret sent for a mason to wall up the closet, trapping the lover inside. Terrified, Madame de Merret passed along a message to the mason asking him to break a hole in the door when her husband was not looking before completely walling the closet off. The mason does that, and Madame de Merret catches a final glimpse of the maddened eyes of her lover through the hole. Once the closet was walled up completely, Madame and Monsieur de Merret stay in the bedroom for several days, listening to the muffled noise coming from the closet. Because of this traumatic experience, Madame de Merret declared her house off-limits upon her death.
Dr. Bianchon learned that Madame de Merret had a Spanish lover for a short period of her life. One day, Madame de Merret's husband returned early from a business trip when her lover was at the house. The lover hid himself in the closet, but the husband, hearing a sound, confronted his wife about the noise. Pressured by her suspicious husband, Madame de Merret swore upon a [[crucifix]] that there was no one in the closet, but threatened in turn to leave her husband if he were ever to open the closet out of suspicion. In response, Monsieur de Merret sent for a [[Masonry|mason]] to wall up the closet, trapping the lover inside. Terrified, Madame de Merret passed along a message to the mason asking him to break a hole in the door when her husband was not looking before completely walling the closet off. The mason does that, and Madame de Merret catches a final glimpse of the maddened eyes of her lover through the hole. Once the closet was walled up completely, Madame and Monsieur de Merret stay in the bedroom for several days, listening to the muffled noise coming from the closet. Because of this traumatic experience, Madame de Merret declared her house off-limits upon her death.


== Adaptations ==
== Adaptations ==
* 1901 : ''The Duchess at Prayer'', by [[Edith Wharton]], contained in her short story collection ''[[Crucial Instances]]''.<ref>[https://www.eapoe.org/papers/psbbooks/pb19861f.htm Edith Wharton and “The Cask of Amontillado”], by Eleanor Dwight, published in ''Poe and Our Times: Influences and Affinities'', Baltimore: The Edgar Allan Poe Society, 1986, pp. 49-57.</ref>
* 1909 : ''[[La Grande Bretèche (film, 1909)|La Grande Bretèche]]'', ''Film d'Art'', directed by [[André Calmettes (réalisateur)|André Calmettes]], with [[Véra Sergine]], [[André Calmettes (réalisateur)|André Calmettes]] and [[Henri Pouctal]], produced by [[Pathé|Pathé Frères]]
* 1909 : ''[[La Grande Bretèche (1909 film)|La Grande Bretèche]]'', ''Film d'Art'', directed by [[André Calmettes]], with [[Véra Sergine]], [[André Calmettes]], and [[Henri Pouctal]], produced by [[Pathé|Pathé Frères]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.cinematheque.fr/film/80621.html |accessdate=20 July 2021 |title=La Grande Bretèche |website=La cinémathèque française |language=fr }}</ref>
* 1913 : ''[[Le Chateau de la Breteche]]'', [[Opera]], based on the story by Honoré de Balzac, by [[Albert Dupuis]], published in 1913 by [[Éditions Durand-Salabert-Eschig|Eschig]], Paris.<ref>{{cite web
* 1913 : ''[[Le Chateau de la Breteche]]'', [[Opera]], based on the story by Honoré de Balzac, by [[Albert Dupuis]], published in 1913 by [[Éditions Durand-Salabert-Eschig|Eschig]], Paris.<ref>{{cite web
|url=https://musicalics.com/en/composer/Albert-Dupuis/Chateau-de-la-Breteche-Le|accessdate=2 August 2020|title=Chateau de la Breteche (Le)|publisher=Musicalics}}</ref>
|url=https://musicalics.com/en/composer/Albert-Dupuis/Chateau-de-la-Breteche-Le|accessdate=2 August 2020|title=Chateau de la Breteche (Le)|date=4 April 2013 |publisher=Musicalics}}</ref>
* 1943 : ''[[Un seul amour (film, 1943)|Un seul amour]]'', film directed by [[Pierre Blanchar]], with [[Micheline Presle]]
* 1943 : ''{{Interlanguage link|Un seul amour|fr}}'', film directed by [[Pierre Blanchar]], with [[Micheline Presle]].<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.frenchfilms.org/review/un-seul-amour-1943.html|accessdate=20 July 2021|title=Un seul amour (1943) |website=FrenchFilms.org | author=James Travers |date=2016}}</ref>
*1944 : [[iarchive:OTRR_Weird_Circle_Singles/Weird_Circle_4x-xx-xx_ep24_The_Niche_of_Doom.mp3|''The Niche of Doom'']], episode of [[The Weird Circle]] radio show.
*1944 : [[iarchive:OTRR Weird Circle Singles/Weird Circle 4x-xx-xx ep24 The Niche of Doom.mp3|''The Niche of Doom'']], episode of [[The Weird Circle]] radio show.
⚫
* 1973 : ''[[La Grande Bretèche (téléfilm, 1973)|La Grande Bretèche]]'', episode of ''[[Orson Welles' Great Mysteries]]'' directed by [[Peter Sasdy]], with [[Orson Welles]], [[Peter Cushing]] and [[Susannah York]].
* 1947 : ''La Grande Bretéche'', [[Opera]] by [[Avery Claflin]], libretto by George R. Mills based on the story by Honoré de Balzac.<ref name="ClaflinScores">{{cite web |date=2009 |title=The composer's manuscripts in the Music Division of The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts |url=http://www.nypl.org/research/lpa/mus/pdf/MUSCLAFl.pdf |accessdate=2023-07-31 |work=PDF Document|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070713074618/http://www.nypl.org/research/lpa/mus/pdf/MUSCLAFl.pdf |archive-date=2007-07-13 }}</ref> The opera was recorded in 1956 and is commercially available for purchase.<ref name="OperaRecording">{{cite web |date=1956 |title=Claflin Commerical Recording |url=https://www.newworldrecords.org/products/avery-claflin-la-grande-breteche |accessdate=2023-07-31}}</ref>
⚫
* 1973 : ''[[La Grande Bretèche (1973 film)|La Grande Bretèche]]'', episode of ''[[Orson Welles' Great Mysteries]]'' directed by [[Peter Sasdy]], with [[Orson Welles]], [[Peter Cushing]], and [[Susannah York]].<ref>{{cite web
|url=https://mubi.com/films/orson-welles-great-mysteries-la-grande-breteche|accessdate=20 July 2021|title=ORSON WELLES' GREAT MYSTERIES: LA GRANDE BRETECHE |website=mubi.com }}</ref>
* 1993 : ''The Mysterious Mansion'', radio play, first broadcast 7 October 1993 on [[BBC Radio 4]], adapted by Peter Mackie and directed by David Hunter, starring [[David Calder (actor)|David Calder]].<ref>{{cite web
|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000bmh9|accessdate=27 August 2021|title=Honore de Balzac - The Mysterious Mansion |website=bbc.com }}</ref>


== Bibliography ==
== Bibliography ==
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[[Category:1831 short stories]]
[[Category:1831 short stories]]
[[Category:Short stories by Honoré de Balzac]]
[[Category:Short stories by Honoré de Balzac]]
[[Category:French short stories]]
[[Category:Books of La Comédie humaine]]
[[Category:Short stories of La Comédie humaine]]
[[Category:Short stories adapted into films]]

Latest revision as of 09:21, 20 February 2024

La Grande Bretèche
AuthorHonoré de Balzac
CountryFrance
LanguageFrench
SeriesLa Comédie Humaine
Publication date
1831
Preceded byLe Message 
Followed byLa Grenadière 

La Grande Bretèche is a short story by Honoré de Balzac published in 1831. It is one of the Scènes de la vie privée of La Comédie humaine.[1]

Plot[edit]

Dr. Horace Bianchon discovers near the town of Vendôme an abandoned manor: La Grande Bretèche. Intrigued by the ruins, the doctor tries unsuccessfully to enter the house night after night. Upon returning to the inn where he is staying, he questions the locals about the house. Finally several locals, including a lawyer and the innkeeper, explain the story of the manor.

Madame de Merret, the late owner of the manor, forbade anyone from entering the house upon her death, be it workmen, visitors, or government officials, for 50 years. The lawyer was given the task, as well as funds, to ensure that her dying wish be accomplished.

Dr. Bianchon learned that Madame de Merret had a Spanish lover for a short period of her life. One day, Madame de Merret's husband returned early from a business trip when her lover was at the house. The lover hid himself in the closet, but the husband, hearing a sound, confronted his wife about the noise. Pressured by her suspicious husband, Madame de Merret swore upon a crucifix that there was no one in the closet, but threatened in turn to leave her husband if he were ever to open the closet out of suspicion. In response, Monsieur de Merret sent for a mason to wall up the closet, trapping the lover inside. Terrified, Madame de Merret passed along a message to the mason asking him to break a hole in the door when her husband was not looking before completely walling the closet off. The mason does that, and Madame de Merret catches a final glimpse of the maddened eyes of her lover through the hole. Once the closet was walled up completely, Madame and Monsieur de Merret stay in the bedroom for several days, listening to the muffled noise coming from the closet. Because of this traumatic experience, Madame de Merret declared her house off-limits upon her death.

Adaptations[edit]

Bibliography[edit]

  • Pierrick Brient, « L’amant muré, à propos de la Grande Bretèche de Balzac », Savoirs et Clinique n° 9, Ramonville Ste Agne, Eres, 2008 ISBN 978-2-7492-0922-7.
  • Nicole Célestin, « La Grande Bretèche : Tradition orale, souvenirs livresques, cadre tourangeau », L'Année balzacienne, Paris, Garnier, 1964, p. 197-203.
  • Lucienne Frappier-Mazur, « Lecture d’un texte illisible : Autre étude de femme et le modèle de la conversation », MLN, May 1983, n° 98 (4), p. 712-27.
  • Henri Godin, « Le Cadran solaire de La Grande Bretèche », L’Année balzacienne, Paris, Garnier Frères, 1967, p. 346-9.
  • (in English) Peter Lock, « Text Crypt », MLN, May 1982, n° 97 (4), p. 872-89.
  • Chantal Massol-Bedoin, « Transfert d’écriture : le réemploi de La Grande Bretèche dans Autre étude de femme », Balzac, Œuvres complètes : Le Moment de La Comédie humaine, Saint-Denis, PU de Vincennes, 1993 p. 203-16.
  • A.-W. Raitt, « Notes sur la genèse de La Grande Bretèche », L’Année balzacienne, Paris, Garnier, 1964, p. 187-96.
  • Marie-Laure Ryan, « Narration, génération, transformation : La Grande Bretèche de Balzac », L’Esprit Créateur, 1977, n° 17, p. 195-210.
  • Scott Sprenger, "Balzac's La Grande Breteche", [1]. Originally published in Masterplots II: Short Story, Pasadena, Salem Press, 1996, 3313-15.
  • Mario Lavagetto, La macchina dell'errore. Storia di una lettura, Torino, Einaudi, 1996.

References[edit]

  1. ^ Honoré de Balzac. The Human Comedy: Introductions and Appendix. Project Gutenberg. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  2. ^ Edith Wharton and “The Cask of Amontillado”, by Eleanor Dwight, published in Poe and Our Times: Influences and Affinities, Baltimore: The Edgar Allan Poe Society, 1986, pp. 49-57.
  3. ^ "La Grande Bretèche". La cinémathèque française (in French). Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  4. ^ "Chateau de la Breteche (Le)". Musicalics. 4 April 2013. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  5. ^ James Travers (2016). "Un seul amour (1943)". FrenchFilms.org. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  6. ^ "The composer's manuscripts in the Music Division of The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts" (PDF). PDF Document. 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-07-13. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
  7. ^ "Claflin Commerical Recording". 1956. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
  8. ^ "ORSON WELLES' GREAT MYSTERIES: LA GRANDE BRETECHE". mubi.com. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  9. ^ "Honore de Balzac - The Mysterious Mansion". bbc.com. Retrieved 27 August 2021.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=La_Grande_Bretèche&oldid=1209104077"