Balzac made a conscious effort in Comedie Humaine to multiply the reappearance, from book to book, of some of his characters. This careful analysis of nearly six hundred reappearing characters shows that some appear only briefly, in no significant role; others play important parts; some become principals in later action.

Balzac made a conscious effort in Comedie Humaine to multiply the reappearance, from book to book, of some of his characters. This careful analysis of nearly six hundred reappearing characters shows that some appear only briefly, in no significant role; others play important parts; some become principals in later action.