Skip to content

Discover Reading Pricing

Loading books

Read The Celibates by Honoré de Balzac — Free Online with an AI Reading Companion

Public-domain books free to read

The Celibates

by Honoré de Balzac

The lives of bachelors and old maids are illustrated in three disparate stories.

Themes: Fiction · Drama

Begin a 10-minute reading

F

In the margin

Pick a starter—or speak. It opens chapter one with you.

AI reading companion

This dedication to Mademoiselle Anna de Hanska is like Balzac gently taking your hand, first showing you a sunlit girl, then murmuring: this story holds sadness, but I hope you'll recognize your own happiness in it.

Start from here

Ask about this book…

Opening

A few passages to enter the atmosphere.

Story I: Pierrette

Story I

Pierrette

Continue in the reader

The book is free to read. AI co-reading includes a limited free trial.

Open the reader

The Celibates

Continue reading