Honore de Balzac’s Love

Few people know that French writer Honore de Balzac loved Ukraine, lived in it during the last years of his life.
He fell in love with Evelina Hanska (Rzewuska) - Polish countess, who owned estates on the territory of Ukraine.

Balzac and Evelina began correspondence in 1832, when in one letter Evelina praised writer’s talent and one of his works. One and a half years later, in Switzerland, Balzac met Evelina and her husband - Vaclav Hanskiy, who invited writer to visit the Hanskiy’s estate in Verhivnya (Zhytomyr region, Ukraine).

 

 

Estate in Verhivnya

Meetings were more and more, and during one of them, Evelina gifted Balzac with ring, which he wore until his death. Between their meetings took place a correspondence. We know of about 450 letters sent to Evelina by writer.
After the death of Vaclav, the writer was not able to visit Ukraine, and Evelina had family problems. But in 1846 Balzac and beloved by him Evelina are traveling across Europe. Evelina had a child from Balzac, who died during childbirth.
In 1847 writer decided to came to Evelina. During a trip he wrote the famous "letters about Kyiv", in which he wrote about Ukraine and its people. Balzac lived in the estate of Evelina –Verhivnia. There he wrote some of his works.

 

 

 

 

Honore de Balzac's flat in Verhivhya Palace

Getting prohibition to marry, writer decided in 1848 to return to France, and a few months after he decide to return.
Very sick writer lived in Verhivnya, visited Vyshnevetsky palace, where he lived for some time with Evelina’s daughter (Vaclav’s daughter) and her husband.
In 1850 Balzac and Evelina got married in town Berdychiv, in the St. Barbara Catholic church. 

Later they moved to France, where the writer lived the last days of his life.
Evelina had no married anymore. She was engaged in the publication of the works of her husband, and later lived in Paris until her death in 1882.

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