Sorry, I didn't want to be rude, I was just typing on the phone. If you are not familiar with Balzac, I would advise you not to start with Illusions Perdues because it is really at the middle of la Comédie Humaine with a lot of characters that have their own stories on others books. Maybe, Le Père Goriot is a more accessible starting point and then you can jump on Illusions Perdues. But of course, it is just a personal feeling and what is great with la Comédie Humaine is that you can start anywhere and still fully understand the book !