The Elixir of Life
- Free to read
- 40 min read
- Reading level: 7th grade
"The Elixir of Life" by Honoré de Balzac is a short story published in 1830. Set in 16th-century Italy and Spain, it follows Don Juan Belvidero, who receives from his dying father a mysterious liquid that can restore life. When Juan disobeys his father's final instructions, he sets in motion a dark chain of events involving forbidden knowledge, debauchery, and atheism. Years later, his own deathbed command to his devout son leads to a horrifying miracle that shocks an entire community.
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- French fiction · Translations into English
