It was good.
I didn't know much about French high society in the mid 19th century.... and if this book is any true reflection of it: barf.
Very wealthy married couples where the women keep paramours in their mansions while the husbands go out to their mistresses. And it's just accepted.
This story focuses on some folk living in a poor boarding house (Maison Vauquer). The title takes its name after one of those boarders "Goriot"... mockingly named by the other boarders as "Father Goriot". Unbeknownst to the boarders he has two very wealthy daughters in which either the sons-in-law no longer want him around or both the sons-in-laws and the daughters. Goriot pines (to the point of reader exhaustion) for his daughters. Some of it is touching... some of it..... much. He apparently spoiled them and now they only need him when they have fallen into some embarrassment in which they can't ask their husbands (all of them openly cheating on each other) for money from which to recover.
A very interesting villain named Vautrin. He has some incredible lines of dialogue. Most of which is trying to lure another main character (Eugene Rastignac) into doing some illicit deeds which could bring both of them much money. Eugene is a young fellow who is intending on being a lawyer. He has bled his family close to dry with his financial needs; and the family realizes that he is their only hope to pull them out of grinding poverty. However, the Rastignac clan has a very famous and wealthy cousin living in Paris who takes Eugene under her wing.
Back to Vautrin. He's an enjoyable bad guy who just gets swept out of the book towards the end. This happens with a few story lines (including Eugene's impoverished family). Not much ends being nicely tied together. But, they say this is one of the books that brought realism to French literature.
Vautrin trying to win over Eugene:
Quote:
I mean to open your eyes to your real position, that is what I am going to do: but I shall do it from the point of view of a man who, after studying the world very closely, sees that there are but two alternatives—stupid obedience or revolt. I obey nobody; is that clear? Now, do you know how much you will want at the pace you are going? A million; and promptly, too, or that little head of ours will be swaying to and fro in the drag-nets at Saint-Cloud, while we are gone to find out whether or no there is a Supreme Being. I will put you in the way of that million.
