Cousin Bette

First published in 1846 by best-selling author Honore de Balzac, Cousin Betty tells the story of an unmarried middle-aged woman who plots the destruction of her extended family. Betty works with Valerie Marneffe, an unhappily married young lady, to seduce and torment a series of men. One of these is Baron Hector Hulot, husband to Betty's cousin Adeline. He sacrifices his family's fortune and good name to please Valerie, who leaves him for a tradesman named Crevel...