First published in 1846 by best-selling author Honor de Balzac, Cousin Betty tells the story of an unmarried middle-aged woman who plots the destruction of her extended family. Betty works with Val rie Marneffe, an unhappily married young lady, to seduce and torment a series of men. One of these is Baron Hector Hulot, husband to Betty's cousin Adeline. He sacrifices his family's fortune and good name to please Val rie, who leaves him for a tradesman named Crevel...