"The Old Virgin Mary" is a tragicomic romantic novel by the outstanding French writer Honore de Balzac, which tells the life story of the young and attractive Mary de Lorival. Rejected by society because of her unattractive appearance, the girl is forced to spend many years in solitude and feels insecure about herself. However, fate turns around when Maximilian de Tryon-Galievsky arrives in the city - a rich and attractive young man who pays attention to Maria. In this book, Balzac explores themes of loneliness, beauty, wealth, and societal perceptions of happiness and love. It reveals the inner conflicts and feelings of the main character, which reflect the difficulty of being in a world where appearance is of great importance. "The Old Virgin Mary" leaves the reader with deep reflections on the nature of human relationships and the recognition of inner beauty that prevails over outer appearance.