The Wild Ass's Skin

Honoré de Balzac

⏱ 8 minFrench classic

A despairing young man is given a magic skin that grants his every wish, but shrinks, with his own life, at each desire. Balzac's philosophical fable of appetite and death.

Listen to the whole of The Wild Ass's Skin in about 8 minutes — professionally narrated, with Apple-Music-style synced subtitles. One book free every day; Folio Premium unlocks the entire library.