Luxury by Eugene Sue
This is one of seven novels that Sue wrote dealing with the Seven Cardinal Sins and was released in English translation bound together with his novel called Gluttony. Together they form an exploration of excess, moral decay, and the psychological impact of the sins of luxury and gluttony within high society and elite circles.
Luxury deals with the corrupting nature of immense wealth, manipulation, and power dynamics between the wealthy elite and opportunistic operators. Its main character is a man in his mid 30s called Pascal who has become immensely wealthy lending money. With his wealth he believes he can buy anything or get anyone to do whatever he wishes. He becomes infatuated with a charming young girl of 15 and tries to use his wealth and power over others to make her his own.
