Is It Based on a Book?
Illusions perdues book cover

Cover via Open Library

Movie · 2021

Is Lost Illusions based on a book?

Quick answer

Yes. Lost Illusions is based on the book Illusions perdues by Honoré de Balzac (1837).

Illusions perdues is part of The Human Comedy series.

The movie was released in 2021.

The book behind Lost Illusions

Illusions perdues cover

Illusions perdues

by Honoré de Balzac · first published 1837 · Bildungsroman

Novel by Honoré de Balzac between 1837 and 1843; consists of three parts, starting in provincial France, thereafter moving to Paris, and finally returning to the provinces.

The Human Comedy: books by publication date

  1. Colonel Chabert (1829)
  2. Les Chouans (1829)
  3. Physiology of Marriage (1829)
  4. Une double famille (1830)
  5. Gobseck (1830)
  6. La Vendetta (1830)
  7. Le Bal de Sceaux (1830)
  8. La Paix du ménage (1830)
  9. Adieu (1830)
  10. El Verdugo (1830)
  11. A Passion in the Desert (1830)
  12. Étude de femme (1830)
  13. L'Auberge rouge (1831)
  14. Le Chef-d'œuvre inconnu (1831)
  15. Sarrasine (1831)
  16. Les Proscrits (1831)
  17. Z. Marcas (1831)
  18. La Grande Bretèche (1831)
  19. The Conscript (1831)
  20. Maître Cornélius (1831)
  21. La Peau de chagrin (1831)
  22. The Message (1832)
  23. Madame Firmiani (1832)
  24. Louis Lambert (1832)
  25. La Bourse (1832)
  26. La Duchesse de Langeais (1832)
  27. La Grenadière (1832)
  28. The Country Doctor (1833)
  29. The Thirteen (1833)
  30. The Deserted Woman (1833)
  31. Théorie de la démarche (1833)
  32. Traité de la vie élégante (1833)
  33. Eugénie Grandet (1833)
  34. The Quest of the Absolute (1834)
  35. Séraphîta (1834)
  36. Un drame au bord de la mer (1834)
  37. Ferragus: Chief of the Devorants (1834)
  38. The Girl with the Golden Eyes (1835)
  39. Le Contrat de mariage (1835)
  40. Melmoth (1835)
  41. Père Goriot (1835)
  42. The Atheist's Mass (1836)
  43. The Lily of the Valley (1836)
  44. Illusions perdues (1837)
  45. César Birotteau (1837)
  46. Gambara (1837)
  47. Massimilla Doni (1837)
  48. Une fille d'Ève (1838)
  49. The Firm of Nucingen (1838)
  50. Splendeurs et misères des courtisanes (1838)
  51. Béatrix (1839)
  52. Les Secrets de la princesse de Cadignan (1839)
  53. Pierre Grassou (1839)
  54. Pathologie de la vie sociale (1839)
  55. Traité des excitants modernes (1839)
  56. Mémoires de deux jeunes mariées (1841)
  57. Le Curé de village (1841)
  58. La Fausse Maîtresse (1841)

Common questions

Is Lost Illusions based on a book?

Yes. Lost Illusions is based on the book Illusions perdues by Honoré de Balzac (1837).

Who wrote the book Lost Illusions is based on?

Illusions perdues was written by Honoré de Balzac and first published in 1837.

Is Illusions perdues part of a series?

Yes, it is part of The Human Comedy series (5 books listed below in reading order).

Should I read the book before watching?

If you like knowing the full story and characters first, read Illusions perdues before you watch. Adaptations often change or cut plotlines, so the book is a different experience even if you've seen the movie.

More screen adaptations of Honoré de Balzac's books

Facts from Wikidata (CC0). See also Wikipedia.