For those readers who now make the acquaintance of the dramas, we would say briefly that the Balzac _Theatre_ comprises five plays --_Vautrin_, _Les Ressources de Quinola_, _Pamela Giraud_, _La Maratre_, and _Mercadet_. These plays are in prose. They do not belong to the apprenticeship period of the _Works of Youth_, but were produced in the heyday of his powers, revealing the mature man and the subtle analyst of character, not at his best, but at a point far above his worst. True, their production aroused condemnation on the part of many contemporary dramatic critics, and were the source of much annoyance and little financial gain to their creator. But this is certainly no criterion for their workmanship. Balzac defied many tenets. He even had the hardihood to dispense with the _claqueurs_ at the first night of _Les Ressources de Quinola_. Naturally the play proceeded coldly without the presence of professional applauders. But Balzac declared himself satisfied with the warm praise of such men as Hugo and Lamartine, who recognized the strength of the lines. The five plays were presented at various times, at the best theatres of Paris, and by the most capable companies. One of them, _Mercadet_, is still revived perennially; and we are of opinion that this play would prove attractive to-day upon an American stage. The action and plots of all these dramas are quite apart from the structure of the _Comedie Humaine_. Vautrin and his "pals" are the only characters borrowed from that series, but his part in the titular play is new beyond the initial situation. The _Premiere Edition_ of the _Theatre Complet_ was published in a single duodecimo volume from the press of Giraud & Dagneau in 1853. It contained: _Vautrin_, _Les Ressources de Quinola_, _Pamela Giraud_, and _La Maratre_. All prefaces were omitted. _Mercadet_ was not given with them in this printing, but appeared in a separate duodecimo, under the title of _Le Faiseur_, from the press of Cadot, in 1853. The next edition of the _Theatre Complet_, in 1855, reinstated the prefaces. It was not until 1865 that _Mercadet_ joined the other four in a single volume published by Mme. Houssiaux.