Austenâ s works were seen in France as part of a sentimental tradition . Because of this , people were more interested in the works of French realists like Stendhal , Balzac , and Flaubert . Because Austenâ s works were seen in France as part of a sentimental tradition , they were overshadowed by the works of French realists such as Stendhal , Balzac , and Flaubert .