Cousin Bette by Honoré de Balzac is more the story of an entire family rather than that of one person. Lisbeth Fischer, known to her family and friends as Bette, has harbored a resentment against her cousin Adeline Hulot since childhood. Bette's father and Adeline's father were two of the Fischer brothers. Their uncle, Johann Fischer, brought the girls up and still contributes to their financial well-being as adults.