Honoré de Balzac, (born May 20, 1799, Tours, Francedied August 18, 1850, Paris), French literary artist who produced a vast number of novels and short stories collectively called La Comédie humaine. Pierre Jules Théophile Gautier (30 August 1811 23 October 1872) was a French poet, dramatist, novelist, journalist, and art and literary critic. Jean-Marie-Mathias-Philippe-Auguste (7 November 1838 19 August 1889) was a French symbolist writer. Guy de Maupassant is famous for his short stories, which paint a fascinating picture of French life in the 19th century. He was prolific, publishing over 300 short stories and six novels, but died at a young age after ongoing struggles with both physical and mental health. Gustave Flaubert is best known for his masterpiece Madame Bovary . The French novelist wrote a number of other classics, however, and is renowned as the foremost expert of French realism. Anatole France (16 April 1844 12 October 1924) was a French poet, journalist, and novelist with several best-sellers. Jules Gabriel Verne (8 February 1828 24 March 1905) was a French novelist, poet, and playwright.