The Wild Ass’s Skin

novel by Balzac

Also known as: “La Peau de chagrin”

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Article History

The Wild Ass’s Skin, novel by Honoré de Balzac, published in two volumes in 1831 as La Peau de chagrin and later included as part of the Études philosophiques section of La Comédie humaine (The Human Comedy). A poor young writer, Raphael de Valentin, is given a magical ass’s skin that will grant his wishes—for a price. With each wish granted, the skin shrinks and the owner’s life is shortened. Forced to choose between self-sacrifice and self-gratification, Valentin chooses worldly pleasures. Ironically, although he had previously been hard at work on a book about the powers of the human will, Valentin soon loses all control over his own life and slips into debauchery. He eventually uses up the skin, bringing on his own death.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Kathleen Kuiper.