comédie humaine
/kɒməˌdi uːˈmɛn/noun
The sum or scope of everyday human affairs, considered as an extended narrative; a literary portrait of this.
- Sometimes with reference to the series of works collectively titled La Comédie humaine by the French author Honoré de Balzac (1799–1850)..
Origin
Late 19th century; earliest use found in The Gentleman's Magazine. From French comédie humaine from comédie + humaine, feminine of humain.