The Collection of Antiquities

Spoiling a child is not just about letting them have a few extra sweets. In some cases, years of doting really do spoil them. Victurien d' Esgrignon was raised by his doting aunt and adoring father - a family high up in the aristocracy of Restoration France. As a young man, he is both intelligent and a liar and a cheat who ruins his family, their lawyer, and others drawn into his circle. Then he meets his match - a young man with the same cold heart and eye for an opportunity. Who will triumph in this race to the bottom? Honore de Balzac\' s \' The Collection of Antiquities\' shines a bright light on the social and moral decline of the aristocracy in 1830s France. Fans of \' Les Miserables\' by Victor Hugo and \' A Tale of Two Cities\' by Charles Dickens will love this!