Le Balcon

3.8 avg 3542 votes

About this book

The setting of Jean Genet's celebrated play is a brothel that caters to refined sensibilities and peculiar tastes. Here men from all walks of life don the garb of their fantasies and act them out: a man from the gas company wears the robe and mitre of a bishop; another customer becomes a flagellant judge, and still another a victorious general, while a bank clerk defiles the Virgin mary. These costumed diversions take place while outside a revolution rages which has isolated the brothel from the rest of the rebel-controlled city. In a stunning series of macabre, climactic scenes, Genet presents his caustic view of man and society.

3.8 ★★★★☆ average of 2 sources · 3542 votes
Open Library 3.0 3
1★2★3★4★5★
Goodreads 3.8 3542

Reader Profile

Enjoyment76Difficulty60Influence53Popularity42Classic70

3.8/5 · 3542 readers · 114 pages · ≈ 2 h 07 m · Moderate

How long does it take to read Le Balcon?

About ≈ 2 h 07 m — 114 pages, assuming roughly 250 words per page at 225 words per minute.Typical novel≈ 5 h 56 mLe Balcon~2 h 07 m

How many pages is Le Balcon?

114 pages in its most-read edition.Typical novel320Le Balcon114

What genre is Le Balcon?

It sits on the Drama shelves.

Is Le Balcon in the public domain?

No — it is still under copyright.

Where does Le Balcon take place?

It takes place in 20th century.

Who wrote Le Balcon?

Jean Genet.

Time period 20th century
Le Balcon ★ 3.8 · 2 sources Check price →