Broadcast: Nov. 5-Dec. 3, 1972. Generally considered to be the first of the French naturalistic novels and one of Balzac's most mature works, "Cousin Bette" is the story of the revenge of a woman from the family she feels has betrayed her. The author makes clear that the form her vengeance takes is possible only because of the corrupt state of Parisian society in the 1830's, as the middle class were just taking over the trappings of power without the experience to control it. The Hulots, who rose to fortune under Napoleon, hold an important position in the Parisian society of Louis-Philippe. At the head of the clan is the general, who shortly after the opening of the story become a Marshal of France. A bachelor, he is devoted to the family of his brother Hector, a baron and the head of a department in the War Office. A handsome man in his late fifties, Hector has a disastrous weakness for women. His wife is Adeline (nee. Fischer), one of nature's martyrs. Their son Victorin has married Celestine Crevel, and it is hoped that their daughter Hortense will marry a prosperous lawyer. Johann Fischer, Adeline's elderly uncle, is also devoted to the Hulots and is far too generous to his nephew by marriage. The last member of the family is Bette Fischer, Adeline's cousin and Johann's niece, and always called Cousin Bette. She earns a living by doing gold embroidery work, and is described by Balzac as a "true peasant." Like the rest of the family, her origins are in Lorraine. Bette has always resented the way in which she has been treated by the family, who have left her to support herself, and salve their consciences about their "country cousin" by inviting her to dine once a week. When Hortense engineers a meeting with Bette's artist protege, Steinbock, and then becomes engaged to him, all without telling her cousin anything, the spinster's fury knows no bounds. She sees in this the final insult from the Hulots and swears to destroy them. She enlists the help of Hector's new mistress, Valerie Marneffe, and together they set out to fulfill their separate ambitions. Valerie wants to make as much money as possible, as quickly as possible; Bette wants revenge. Source: WGBH. archived promotional material.
