Written in 1831, The Wild Ass's Skin by novel French giant Honore de Balzac is supernatural story that talks about the notion of pleasure and evil. Raphael de Valentin is a poor struggling author. Things go terribly wrong and Raphael goes to kill himself. Seeing this, the shopkeeper of an antique store offers him an enchanted animal skin from the days of King Solomon, the shagreen. It will grant its owner any wish, but once that desire becomes a reality, the miraculous leather shrinks along with the life of its owner. Dreaming of having Paris at his feet, Raphael accepts the skin. He gives himself enormous wealth and a title, yet Raphael becomes increasingly isolated and every wish brings him closer to death. Read it for an entertaining classic of magical realism.