Note 234 — TABLE I.
Reading edition
Fielding, Le Sage, and Balzac are writers of great power, whose works are studied for their artistic merit, their wit, and the intense excitement some of them yield; but the general moral tone of their writings places them below the purer writers above spoken of in respect to their value to the general reader, one of whose deepest interests is character-forming.
Fielding's "Tom Jones" is by many considered the finest novel in existence; and it undoubtedly would be, if along with its literary skill it possessed the high tone of Curtis or Scott. "Jonathan Wild" is also a powerful story. (Eng., 18th cent.)
"Gil Blas," by Le Sage, is one of the most famous and widely read books in the world. (France, 1668—1747.)
Balzac's best are "Le Père Goriot" (and especially the magnificent preface to this book), "La Recherche de l'Absolu," "Eugénie Grandet," "La Peau de Chagrin," etc. (France, 19th cent.)