From the Bookshelf of The Roundtable…

Père Goriot

Honoré de Balzac

Start date: February 1, 2020

Finish date: February 29, 2020

Discussion: 100 Best Novels in Translation

Why we're reading this: Spontaneous side-read coming out of the 100 Novels in translation project.
[close] Spontaneous side-read coming out of the 100 Novels in translation project.

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100 Best Novels in Translation

September – Modern Spanish, Czech, Hebrew
By Lauren · 11 posts · 27 views

last updated Dec 03, 2022 03:56PM

February - Early French, Norwegian
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last updated Oct 20, 2022 10:07AM

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What Members Thought

Aug 06, 2014 Wendy rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: classics, blooms-western-canon, in-translation, 1001-books

My first dip into the vast ocean that is Balzac's Comedie Humaine, and not my last. The story is set in 1819, on the heels of the Reign of Terror and the Bonaparte years, and the people of Paris just want to forget war, politics, and just spend money on the fun stuff, dammit. Eugene, penniless son of a broke country noble, comes to Paris to study law, find a rich girl, and have a good time while simultaneously replenishing the family coffers (eventually). Like a good little dandy he splurges on ...more

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Feb 19, 2020 Pamela rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: guardian-1000-read, boxall-1001-read

Tragic story of an old man whose love for his two selfish and profligate daughters leads to a miserable and lonely existence. In the boardinghouse where he has taken up residence, Goriot is befriended by the ambitious young student Eugène de Rastignac. Rastignac is making his way into Parisian society through the assistance of his wealthy cousin, and soon finds himself involved with Goriot's daughters.

Balzac brilliantly paints a picture of Parisian society in 1819, from the wealth of the ballroo ...more

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Dec 17, 2013 Jen rated it really liked it

Shelves: atw-globetrotter, audio, 1001-books, 2014-reads

This is the true definition of a classic. It is a book I could (and hope to) read again and find new discoveries in its many layers. Reading this, it is easy to forget it was written almost 200 years ago. The characters are fresh, the themes are better than timeless - they are current.

I enjoyed the contrast of stark realism in the detailed descriptions of Parisian life and its colourful characters, with Balzac's frank and critical societal commentary woven in.

This book isn't without flaws. The ...more

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