The complete online text of A Second Home by Honoré de Balzac.

Had Balzac been a less masterful novelist, the disreputably profligate fraud in him might have overwhelmed his artistry. Still, the other Balzac, the artist, is tainted by his well-earned reputation for what has been called artistic license or dishonesty...

The French novelist Honoré de Balzac (1799-1850) was the first writer to use fiction to convey the total social scene prevailing within one country at a particular period in its history. Commonly regarded as the founder of social realism, he also...

For years, the wealthy have bought second homes to use as vacation retreats and benefit from the appreciation of the property. Increasingly, middle class families are looking more seriously at the second home market _ especially baby boomers who want to line up a home...

Bahamian voters elected a new parliament Wednesday as the prime minister sought a second term on his record of growth in a tourism-driven economy while the opposition warned that the island chain has been put up for sale to foreigners.Rallies during the campaign were marked...

With their regular programs halted by a writers' strike, cast members of NBC's "Saturday Night Live" and "30 Rock" planned to stage a pair of live performances at a Manhattan improv theater.The shows, held at the 150-seat Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre co-founded by SNL's Amy...

Opportunities to buy a vacation home abound, now that the worst housing slump in 16 years has put buyers in control of the market.Need extra impetus to find the perfect weekend retreat? Consider that the Internal Revenue Service can subsidize plenty of ownership costs, if...