{"product_id":"the-marriage-contract","title":"Le Contrat de mariage","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat if the fiercest battle in a marriage begins before the vows, over the terms of a contract?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn Bordeaux, in the years after Napoleon, wealthy Paul de Manerville wants to marry Natalie Evangelista. He is generous and trusting; she is clever, strong-willed, and schooled in society by her mother. Before they can marry, their families must settle a contract that puts money and control at the heart of their future.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn The Marriage Contract, Honoré de Balzac turns courtship into a contest of advice, pride, and legal skill. Paul's cynical friend Henri de Marsay warns him about marriage. At the bargaining table, loyal Mathias faces polished Solonet, the Evangelistas' notary. Every term matters when two fortunes, not just two hearts, are about to join.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWhat you'll discover\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eA trusting man tested\u003c\/strong\u003e – Follow Paul as his generous nature meets people far more practiced in protecting their interests.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCharm with a purpose\u003c\/strong\u003e – Meet Natalie and Madame Evangelista, whose social skill gives the marriage talks their sharp edge.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThe notaries' quiet battle\u003c\/strong\u003e – Watch Mathias and Solonet turn careful legal bargaining into a struggle over the couple's future.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMoney behind the vows\u003c\/strong\u003e – Explore how property and pride shape private choices that seem to belong to love.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSociety under close watch\u003c\/strong\u003e – Enjoy Balzac's sharp social comedy as he connects household display, personal ambition, and the law.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003ePerfect for readers who enjoy sharp social comedy, French fiction of the 1800s, and money-driven plots where careful bargaining matters more than fast action.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOpen the first page now, and enter a courtship where every promise has terms.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Library of Alexandria Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":59534703722844,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1027\/9442\/8764\/files\/09932_en_ebook-front_c25.jpg?v=1792175110","url":"https:\/\/libraryofalexandria.com\/fr\/products\/le-contrat-de-mariage","provider":"The Library of Alexandria","version":"1.0","type":"link"}