Father Goriot
By Honoré de Balzac
Le Père Goriot (“Old Goriot” or “Father Goriot”) is an 1835 novel by French novelist and playwright Honoré de Balzac (1799–1850), included in the Scènes de la vie privée section of his novel sequence La Comédie humaine. Set in Paris in 1819, it follows the intertwined lives of three characters: the elderly doting Goriot, a mysterious criminal-in-hiding named Vautrin, and a naive law student named Eugène de Rastignac. Originally published in serial form during the winter of 1834–1835, Le Père Goriot is considered Balzac’s most important novel. It marks the first serious use by the author of characters who had appeared in other books, a technique that distinguishes Balzac’s fiction.
The novel is also noted as an example of his realist style, using minute details to create character and subtext. The story takes place during the Bourbon Restoration, which brought profound changes to French society; the struggle by individuals to secure a higher social status is a significant theme in the book. The city of Paris also impresses itself on the characters – especially young Rastignac, who grew up in the provinces of southern France. Through Goriot and others, Balzac analyses the nature of family and marriage, providing a pessimistic view of these institutions. The novel was released to mixed reviews. Some critics praised the author for his complex characters and attention to detail; others condemned him for his many depictions of corruption and greed. A favourite of Balzac’s, the book quickly won widespread popularity and has often been adapted for film and the stage. It gave rise to the French expression “Rastignac”, a social climber willing to use any means to better his situation.
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Honoré de Balzac
Honoré de Balzac (20 May 1799 – 18 August 1850) was a French novelist and playwright.
Biography
The novel sequence La Comédie humaine, which presents a panorama of post-Napoleonic French life, is generally viewed as his magnum opus. Owing to his keen observation of detail and unfiltered representation of society, Balzac is regarded as one of the founders of realism in European literature. He is renowned for his multi-faceted characters; even his lesser characters are complex, morally ambiguous, and fully human. Inanimate objects are also imbued with character; the city of Paris, a backdrop for much of his writing, takes on many human qualities. His writing influenced famous writers, including the novelists Émile Zola, Charles Dickens, Marcel Proust, Gustave Flaubert, Henry James, and filmmakers François Truffaut and Jacques Rivette.
Many of Balzac’s works have been made into films and continue to inspire other writers. James called him “really the father of us all.” An enthusiastic reader and independent thinker as a child, Balzac had trouble adapting to the teaching style of his grammar school. His willful nature caused trouble throughout his life and frustrated his ambitions to succeed in business. When he finished school, Balzac was apprenticed in a law office, but he turned his back on the study of law after wearying of its inhumanity and banal routine. Before and during his career as a writer, he attempted to be a publisher, printer, businessman, critic, and politician; he failed in all these efforts. La Comédie Humaine reflects on his real-life difficulties and includes scenes from his experience. Balzac suffered from health problems throughout his life, possibly owing to his intense writing schedule. His relationship with his family was often strained by financial and personal drama, and he lost more than one friend over critical reviews. In 1850, Balzac married Ewelina Hańska (née Contessa Rzewuska), a Polish aristocrat and his longtime love. He died in Paris six months later.
Honoré de Balzac
