Lost Illusions &mdash; in french, Illusions perdues&mdash; is a serial novel written by the French writer Honor&eacute; de Balzac between 1837 and 1843. It consists of three parts, starting in provincial France, thereafter moving to Paris, and finally returning to the provinces. Thus it resembles another of Balzac&#39;s greatest novels, The Black Sheep, 1842,&nbsp; (La Rabouilleuse), in that it is set partly in Paris and partly in the provinces. It is, however, unique among the novels and short stories of&nbsp; The Human Comedy, 1799&ndash;1850, (La Com&eacute;die humaine) by virtue of the even-handedness with which it treats both geographical dimensions of French social life.<br />Background<br />| The novel&#39;s main character, Lucien Chardon, works as a journalist, and his friend David S&eacute;chard is a printer. These were both professions with which Balzac himself had experience.<br />Balzac had started a printing business in Paris in 1826. It became bankrupt in 1828. His experiences influenced his description of David S&eacute;chard&#39;s working life...|