Photo : Huard, Charles (Poncey-sur-l'Ignon, 02–06–1874 - Poncey-sur-l'Ignon, 30–03–1965), dessinate
Rewriting 'Honorine', a series of creative writing workshops
Step into the shoes of a literary revisionist by diving deep into the intricate human dramas of Balzac. These creative writing sessions invite you to shift perspectives and challenge vintage moral debates through a thoroughly modern lens.
Maison de Balzac musée et bibliothèque (Paris 16th)
About
The Maison de Balzac invites you to join a creative writing workshop series centered on Honorine. Designed for participants aged 12 and up, these sessions allow you to delve into Balzacian themes by crafting letters, dialogues, and narratives that reinterpret the original work. Whether you join for a single session or the full series, you will explore the intricacies of human passions in a collaborative environment. This event is wheelchair accessible and takes place in the 16th arrondissement, offering a unique opportunity to blend classical literature with modern perspectives through shared writing and discussion.
The cycle consists of 4 sessions. It is possible to follow the entire writing workshop series or to participate in a single workshop.
Through the process of rewriting, the aim is to continue in the spirit of Balzac: that of meticulous observation of human passions and social mechanisms. Drawing inspiration from excerpts of Honorine, you will be invited to imagine letters, dialogues, character thoughts, testimonies, and narratives that enrich and/or shift the meaning and perspectives of the work.
Finally, the debate surrounding the question 'who, the woman or the man, was at fault in the woman's transgression?' will be re-enacted using excerpts from Honorine complemented by these fictional testimonies, like a true collective staging of the inquiry. This rereading will allow for a confrontation of views and the emergence of contradictory interpretations. By putting Balzac's era and our contemporary perspective into perspective, the workshop opens a space for discussion where the text becomes alive, reinterpreted in light of today's sensibilities.
Writing time is followed by a time for reading the texts aloud and for exchanges. Finally, if you wish, a collective book gathering the Balzac excerpts complemented by all the texts produced during the workshop series will be offered to each participant as a trace of this shared literary adventure.
Sunday, September 13
Session 1: The portrait of Honorine from a different point of view, based on texts by Balzac and the scent of violet created by Givaudan
Sunday, October 11
Session 2: The departure of Honorine, Honorine and the flowers
Sunday, November 8
Session 3: Octave's love for Honorine
Sunday, November 22
Session 4: Debate based on the question 'who, the woman or the man, was at fault in the woman's transgression?'
Our take on this event
Hosted within the walls of the Maison de Balzac, this four-part workshop series explores the depths of Honorine through creative writing. The final two sessions are scheduled for Sunday, November 08, 2026, and Sunday, November 22, 2026, from 15:00 to 17:00. The third session focuses on Octave’s love for Honorine, while the fourth session features a collective debate regarding the moral complexities within the couple’s relationship.
Each meeting includes writing exercises based on Balzac’s prose, followed by group readings and discussions. By examining the text through contemporary eyes, participants are encouraged to explore contradictory interpretations of the characters' actions. As a memento of this literary journey, a collective volume featuring the group's work will be made available to participants at the end of the series.
The cost to attend is between 8 and 10 euros. The event is open to anyone 12 years of age or older. The venue is wheelchair accessible, ensuring a comfortable experience for all attendees. You may opt to attend individual sessions or participate in the entire cycle to fully engage with the creative process.
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