Five of Balzac's finest short stories are collected in this volume. "The Unknown Masterpiece" introduces three artists and their obsessive quest to create beautiful paintings which will enthrall the viewer—and the madness that ensues. "The Maranas" follows two French soldiers stationed in a small Italian town, and the mysterious beauty they meet there. Also included are "A Seashore Drama," "The Red Inn," and "Master Cornelius."