Vautrin Author:Honore de Balzac Honora de Balzac is considered the founder of social realism. Balzac was the first writer to write about all social levels of the social scene in France. His vast collection of works encompasses the Restoration period and the July Monarchy. La Comedie Humaine was written between 1799 and 1850. This collection contains 95 novels, stories, an... more »d essays. Vautrin's real name is Jacques Collin. In prison, he got the nickname Trompe-la-Mort (Tricks-death), because he was very careful never to commit a crime that could result in a death sentence. Jacques Collin was a mastermind criminal escaping the police when Balzac began writing his La Comedie Humaine.« less