Content levels
Trigger warnings
Positive tags
Hero archetypes
Protagonist archetypes
Tropes
Themes
Synopsis
A mix of gothic elements, romance and SF, this disjointed novel is a mishmash of stories set in different time frames, loosely linked by the two characters of the title-the Centenarian father and his illegitimate son Tullius, or General Beringheld. The monstrous, immortal father-who sustains his powers by extracting the life-essence from young peoplei̮s the novel's central figure, but Tullius's diaries form the main story.
The Centenarian: or, The Two Beringhelds: content & age rating
Intended for adult readers (18+).
This early Balzac novel features a monstrous immortal being who sustains his life by draining the life-essence from young people, with gothic horror elements and fragmented storytelling across multiple time periods.
What to know going in
This book has strong violence, mild sexual content, and mild language. Content notes include murder, death, and death of child (see the full list above).
Who'll love this
Mature readers interested in early 19th-century gothic literature and dark fantasy will find this an ambitious, experimental work exploring immortality's dark side.