The following book is a collection of letter-based correspondence between Ewelina Rzewuska and Honoré de Balzac before their marriage. She married landowner Wacław Hański when she was a teenager. Hański, who was about 20 years her senior, suffered from depression. In the late 1820s, Hańska began reading Balzac's novels, and in 1832, she sent him an anonymous letter. This began a decades-long correspondence in which Hańska and Balzac expressed a deep mutual affection—which is collated in this publication.

Honoré de Balzac (1799–1850) was a French novelist and playwright whose work had a profound influence on nineteenth-century literature. Balzac's magnum opus, 'La Comédie humaine,' comprises over ninety novels and tales depicting an extensive panorama of French society during the post-Napoleonic era. A master of realism, his narratives offer a meticulous and comprehensive social critique that embraced every facet of French life. Balzac's characters are real and complex, often recurring throughout his oeuvre to illustrate the author's deep analysis of society and human nature. In 'Letters to Madame Hanska, born Countess Rzewuska, afterwards Madame Honoré de Balzac, 1833-1846,' readers gain insight into Balzac's personal life and the fervent correspondence that lasted for more than a decade with Eveline Hanska, a Polish noblewoman who would eventually become his wife. This collection of letters reveals the texture of Balzac's thoughts, fears, aspirations, and literary achievements. A keen observer with a prodigious memory, Balzac has been lauded for his detailed and persistent pursuit of the inner workings of society, earning him a reputation as one of the founders of literary realism. His writing continues to fascinate modern readers and intellectuals, ensuring his place as a titan of literature long after his death.