The Wild Ass's Skin

by Honoré de Balzac

"The Magic Skin" also known as "The Wild Ass's Skin" is Honor� de Balzac's 1831 novel that tells the story of a young man, Rapha�l de Valentin, who discovers a piece of shagreen, in this case a rough untanned piece of a wild ass's skin, which has the magical property of granting wishes. However the fulfilment of the wisher's desire comes at a cost, after each wish the skin shrinks a little bit and consumes the physical energy of the wisher. "The Wild Ass's Skin" is at once both a work of incredi...