Shagrenevaia kozha - Bal'zak Onore de

In the novel Honore de Balzac, which brought him the first literary glory, tells the story of a poor young ambitious Rafael Valanten, on the verge of suicide accidentally bought in an antique shop a magic talisman - a piece of shagin skin, performing all desires of its owner, but at the same time each time shortening his life. Having gained wealth and pleasure, Valanten very soon finds himself faced with a choice: to live for pleasure and thus doom yourself to an imminent death - or to "break your imagination", to indulge in self-restraint and, obeying the instinct of self-preservation, to turn off myself out of life.