Honoré de Balzac, was a prolific French novelist best known for his monumental work La Comédie Humaine and a key figure in the 19th-century French literary scene.

Fueled by Coffee—Lots of It!

Balzac had a legendary coffee obsession, claiming it was the secret to his productivity. He would drink up to 50 cups of coffee a day (yes, 50!), sometimes even eating coffee grounds straight from the bag. He believed coffee gave him the energy to write for marathon sessions, but it also wreaked havoc on his health. His caffeine-fueled lifestyle became as famous as his books!

The Ultimate Workaholic

Balzac was an incredible workaholic, often writing for 15 to 18 hours a day. He followed an extreme schedule—he would go to bed early in the evening, wake up at 1 a.m., and write until dawn, fueled by his endless cups of coffee. He often dressed in a monk-like robe while writing, fully immersing himself in his creative world.

He Tried (and Failed) at Many Careers

Before finding success as a writer, Balzac tried his hand at numerous jobs and business ventures, including publishing, printing, and even running a pineapple farm! Unfortunately, most of these ventures ended in failure, leaving him deeply in debt. It was this financial strain that pushed him to write feverishly in hopes of paying off his creditors.

La Comédie Humaine

A Literary Universe: Long before Marvel created its cinematic universe, Balzac was creating his own interconnected literary world. His ambitious series La Comédie Humaineconsists of over 90 novels and stories that feature recurring characters and settings. Balzac intended the series to paint a comprehensive picture of French society, making him one of the earliest creators of what we might call a “shared universe” in literature.

Nighttime Inspirations

Balzac believed that the best time for inspiration was when the rest of the world was asleep. His nighttime writing schedule was based on his idea that darkness and solitude helped him reach deeper into his imagination. He once said that it was during these quiet hours that "all the demons take shape."

He Had a Unique Fashion Sense

Balzac was known for his flamboyant taste in fashion. Even when he was financially struggling, he loved dressing extravagantly, often in silk vests and embroidered robes. His love for fine clothing mirrored his larger-than-life personality and desire to be seen as part of high society, even if his finances didn’t always reflect that.

Debt Was His Muse

Balzac spent most of his life deep in debt. He was constantly borrowing money to fund his expensive lifestyle and failed business ventures. In a strange way, his financial woes fueled his writing—he often wrote furiously to keep up with his debts, and many of his stories feature characters struggling with the complexities of wealth, status, and money.

Unfinished Business

Despite his Herculean writing efforts, Balzac never finished La Comédie Humaine. He planned to write 137 works for the series, but only completed about 90 by the time of his death. His ambitious goal was to create a panoramic view of 19th-century French life, but even with the unfinished parts, La Comédie Humaine remains an astonishing literary achievement.

He Died Exhausted (and Still in Debt)

Balzac’s workaholic lifestyle eventually caught up with him. He died at the age of 51, likely due to the stress caused by his intense writing schedule and poor health habits. Despite all his success, Balzac’s debts followed him to the grave, proving that even a literary giant couldn’t escape his financial troubles.