The Ball

“The Ball” is a novella by French author Irène Némirovsky that tells the story of a young girl who takes revenge on her newly rich parents as they strive to enter high society. When the parents decide to host a lavish ball to cement their newfound social standing, the daughter, feeling humiliated and rejected, commits an act that completely shatters their plans. The work explores themes of class division, ambition, and turbulent family dynamics.