Father Goriot by Honoré de Balzac

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About this eBook

Author Balzac, Honoré de, 1799-1850
Translator Marriage, Ellen, 1865-1946
Title Father Goriot
Note Translation of Pere Goriot
Note Reading ease score: 79.4 (7th grade). Fairly easy to read.
Credits Produced by Dagny, and David Widger
Summary "Father Goriot" by Honoré de Balzac is a novel set in the early 19th century (specifically during the July Monarchy in France). The story revolves around the lives of the residents of a run-down boarding house known as the Maison Vauquer, particularly focusing on the titular character, Father Goriot, who sacrifices everything for his daughters, exploring the themes of social status, familial ties, and the consequences of ambition in a merciless society. The opening portion of the novel introduces the reader to the dreary atmosphere of the boarding house run by Madame Vauquer, who maintains a semblance of respectability amidst the poverty surrounding her. We meet the diverse cast of boarders, including the elderly and eccentric Father Goriot, who is somewhat of a laughingstock among his peers due to his devotion to his daughters. There's also Eugène de Rastignac, a law student filled with ambition, who arrives at this gloomy residence. The initial chapters establish not only the social dynamics of the boarding house but also hint at the deeper emotional struggles of Father Goriot, setting the stage for a poignant exploration of love, sacrifice, and the harsh realities of Parisian society. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
Language English
LoC Class PQ: Language and Literatures: Romance literatures: French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese
Subject Fathers and daughters -- Fiction
Subject Paris (France) -- Fiction
Subject French fiction -- Translations into English
Subject Older men -- Fiction
Subject France -- History -- Louis XVIII, 1814-1824 -- Fiction
Category Text
EBook-No. 1237
Release Date
Most Recently Updated Jan 27, 2021
Copyright Status Public domain in the USA.
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