Letters of Two Brides

Letters of Two Brides by Honoré de Balzac is an epistolary novel that tells the contrasting life stories of two aristocratic women-Louise and Renée-through their letters to each other.

Louise chooses a passionate, romantic life by eloping with a man she loves deeply, while Renée opts for a stable, conventional marriage. As their lives unfold, their letters reveal the joys, sorrows, and consequences of their choices, exploring themes of love, duty, freedom, and the roles of women in society.

The novel highlights how different ideals of happiness can lead to vastly different outcomes.