The following is a list of characters from La Comédie humaine a collection of 95 loosely connected novels satirically detailing the life and times of French society in the period after the fall of Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821)—namely the period of the Restoration (1815–1830) and the July Monarchy (1830–1848). French novelist and playwright Honoré de Balzac (1799-1850), over the course of these novels, invents a plethora of unique and memorable characters.
An encyclopedia of all of the Comédie's characters was published as Repertory Of The Comedie Humaine, written by Anatole Cerfberr and Jules François Christophe.
Major characters
Recurring characters
Eugène de Rastignac - student, dandy, financier, politician (appears in 28 works) Lucien Chardon de Rubempré (the use of "de Rubempré" is contested) - journalist, parvenu Jacques Colin Carlos Herrera a.k.a. Vautrin a.k.a. Trompe-la-Mort - a criminal run away from hard labour Camusot - examining magistrate (The Collection of Antiquities, A Commission in Lunacy, Scenes from a Courtesan's Life; his father also appears in A Distinguished Provincial at Paris) Blondet, Emile - journalist, man of letters, prefect (The Collection of Antiquities, A Distinguished Provincial at Paris, Scenes from a Courtesan's Life). Compare and contrast with Raoul Nathan. Raoul Nathan - in 19 works, writer, politician Daniel d'Arthez Delphine de Nucingen née Goriot Roger de Granville Louis Lambert la duchesse de Langeais la comtesse de Mortsauf Jean-Jacques Bixiou - in 19 works, artist Joseph Bridau - in 13 works, painter Marquis de Ronquerolles - in 20 works la comtesse Hugret de Sérisy - in 20 works Félix-Amédée de Vandenesse Horace Bianchon - in 24 works, doctor des Lupeaulx - public servant Salon leaders: the Duchesse de Maufrigneuse, the Marquise d'Espard Dandies: Maxime de Trailles, Henri de Marsay Courtesans: La Torpille (Esther van Gobseck), Madame du Val-Noble Financiers: Ferdinand du Tillet, Frédérick de Nucingen (a thin fictionalization of James Rothschild), Keller brothers Actresses: Florine (Sophie Grignault), Coralie, Publishers/Journalists/Critics: Finot, Etienne Lousteau, Felicien Vernou Money lenders: Jean-Esther van Gobseck, Bidault a.k.a. Gigonnet
Characters who appear in several titles but only significantly in one of them. Birotteau Goriot
Characters in a single volume Raphaël de Valentin le baron Hulot Balthazar Claës Grandet le cousin Pons
Heraldry
Balzac created fictional coats of arms for many of the characters in the novels. They have later been illustrated and collected in the Armorial de la Comédie Humaine (1963).