Reading Group on Le Père Goriot by Honoré de Balzac

This reading group is dedicated to Le Père Goriot (Old Man Goriot) by Honoré de Balzac, a key novel in his Comédie Humaine series.

Monsieur Goriot is one of a disparate group of lodgers at Madame Vauquer’s dingy Parisian boarding house. At first his wealth inspires respect, but as his circumstances are mysteriously reduced, he becomes shunned by those around him, and soon his only remaining visitors are his two beautifully dressed daughters. Goriot’s fate is intertwined with two other fellow boarders: the young social climber Eugene Rastignac, who sees a way to gain the acceptance and wealth he craves, and the enigmatic figure of Vautrin, who is hiding darker secrets than anyone.

Weaving a compelling and panoramic story of love, money, self-sacrifice, corruption, greed and ambition, Le Père Goriot is Balzac’s acknowledged masterpiece.