Father Goriot (Annotated)
Enriched Edition. A Nineteenth-Century Realist Tale of Parisian Ambition, Paternal Sacrifice, and Social CorruptionBy Honoré de Balzac
Length12h 50m
About this audiobook
Father Goriot is one of the central novels of Balzac's vast Comédie humaine, a searching anatomy of Restoration Paris and its ruthless social hierarchies. Set chiefly in the shabby Maison Vauquer boarding house, the novel interweaves the tragic decline of the self-sacrificing Goriot with the moral education of the ambitious Eugène de Rastignac. Balzac's dense realism, documentary precision, and dramatic irony transform domestic suffering into a critique of money, status, and familial ingratitude. Honoré de Balzac, born in 1799, was both a tireless observer of French society and a novelist intent on giving fiction the scope of social history. His own struggles with debt, aspiration, publishing, and social mobility informed his fascination with ambition and compromise. In Father Goriot, written in 1834–35, he perfected his method of recurring characters and panoramic social analysis, making Paris itself a living organism of desire and corruption. This novel is essential reading for anyone interested in nineteenth-century realism, the modern city, or the moral costs of success. It offers not merely a moving story of paternal devotion, but a profound initiation into Balzac's world, where love, money, and power are inseparably entwined.
This enriched edition has been carefully crafted to add value to your reading experience.
- A succinct Introduction situates the work's timeless appeal and themes.
- The Synopsis outlines the central plot, highlighting key developments without spoiling critical twists.
- A detailed Historical Context immerses you in the era's events and influences that shaped the writing.
- An Author Biography reveals milestones in the author's life, illuminating the personal insights behind the text.
- A thorough Analysis dissects symbols, motifs, and character arcs to unearth underlying meanings.
- Reflection questions prompt you to engage personally with the work's messages, connecting them to modern life.
- Hand‐picked Memorable Quotes shine a spotlight on moments of literary brilliance.
- Interactive footnotes clarify unusual references, historical allusions, and archaic phrases for an effortless, more informed read.
Audiobook details
Rating★★★★ 4.0 (74K)
Includes Goodreads, LibraryThing, StoryGraph, Amazon
GenreLiterary Classics, General Fiction
Length12 hrs 50 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateOct 29, 2018
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1Father Goriot (Annotated)
8Father Goriot (pt. 3)
2Introduction
9Father Goriot (pt. 4)
3Synopsis
10Father Goriot (pt. 5)
4Historical Context
11Analysis
5Author Biography
12Reflection
Show all chaptersShow less
6Father Goriot (pt. 1)
13Memorable Quotes
7Father Goriot (pt. 2)
Eugenia GrandetHonoré de Balzac7h 40m$1.99 · $0.00
Junggesellenwirtschaft (Kommentiert)Honoré de Balzac13h 53m4.3 (13)$1 · $0.00
The Lily of the Valley (Annotated)Honoré de Balzac12h 22m$2 · $0.00
A Woman of Thirty (Annotated)Honoré de Balzac9h 14m3.6 (7.8K)$2 · $0.00
Rise and Fall of Cesar Birotteau (Annotated)Honoré de Balzac12h 11m$2 · $0.00
Der Dorfpfarrer (Roman) (Kommentiert)Honoré de Balzac13h 55m3.7 (231)$1 · $0.00
Gesammelte Werke: 15 Romane, 27 Erzählungen, 2 Novellen, 2 Abhandlungen & Essays (Kommentiert)Honoré de Balzac396h 51m$1.50 · $0.00
The Celibates Trilogy (Annotated)Honoré de Balzac21h 37m$2 · $0.00
The Magic Skin (Annotated)Honoré de Balzac12h 19m4.3 (11)$2 · $0.00
History of the Thirteen (Annotated)Honoré de Balzac15h 12m4.0 (3.9K)$2 · $0.00
Scenes from a Courtesan's Life (Annotated)Honoré de Balzac23h 15m4.4 (112)$2 · $0.00
Eugénie Grandet (Roman) (Kommentiert)Honoré de Balzac11h 29m4.1 (45.1K)$1 · $0.00
Oeuvres Complètes (Annoté)Honoré de Balzac479h 55m4.6 (166)$1.99 · $0.00
Das Chagrinleder: Valentins Pakt mit dem Teufel (Kommentiert)Honoré de Balzac13h 42m4.3 (14)$1 · $0.00
Gesammelte Romane: 15 Romane in einem Band (Kommentiert)Honoré de Balzac196h 24m$1 · $0.00
Die Lilie im Tal (Roman) (Kommentiert)Honoré de Balzac14h 16m3.7 (8.2K)$1 · $0.00
Die besten Kurzgeschichten aus Frankreich (Kommentiert)Honoré de Balzac, George Sand, Guy de Maupassant, Alphonse Daudet, Stendhal, Gustave Flaubert, Alexandre Dumas, Charles Baudelaire, Prosper Mérimée, André Gide, Anatole France183h 30m$1 · $0.00
Cousin Betty & Cousin Pons (Annotated)Honoré de Balzac30h 57m$2 · $0.00
Catherine De Medici (Annotated)Honoré de Balzac12h 56m3.4 (639)$2 · $0.00
The Best Works of Balzac (Annotated)Honoré de Balzac451h 6m4.4 (29)$2 · $0.00
This Side of Paradise - The Original 1920 Edition (Annotated)F. Scott Fitzgerald11h 30m4.6 (1.6K)$2 · $0.00
The Great Gatsby: Original 1925 Edition (An F. Scott Fitzgerald Classic NovelFrancis Scott Fitzgerald4h 45m4.6 (9.3K)$18 · $0.00
Ivanhoe (Annotated)Walter Scott22h 52m4.8 (88)$2 · $0.00
The Fire Next TimeJames Baldwin2h 25m4.6 (159.1K)$15
The Complete Histories / History Plays of William Shakespeare (Annotated)William Shakespeare29h 42m4.6 (2.3K)$1.99 · $0.00
Braving the TruthRachel Held Evans11h 31m4.7 (359)$29 · $0.00
Richard Wagamese SelectedRichard Wagamese3h 14m4.6 (594)$15
The Old Man and the Sea (Annotated)Ernest Hemingway4h 27m4.6 (1.4K)$2 · $0.00
Twelfth Night (The Unabridged Play) + The Classic Biography (Annotated)William Shakespeare, Sidney Lee16h 38m4.6 (1.4K)$2 · $0.00
Henry V (The Play, Historical Background and Analysis of the Character in the Play)William Shakespeare, William Hazlitt8h 40m4.6 (1.3K)$1 · $0.00
Pathways to LightPrakash Amte7h 6m4.6 (1.3K)$8
These Vital SignsSayed Tabatabai3h 20m4.7 (215)$18 · $0.00
H. P. LOVECRAFT Ultimate Collection: Novellas, Short Stories, Poetry & Essays (Annotated)H. P. Lovecraft12h 28m4.6 (2.3K)$2 · $0.00
Time RegainedMarcel Proust15h 54m4.5 (10.6K)$2 · $0.00
Lessons in TruthH. Emilie3h 50m4.6 (1.4K)$4.70 · $0.00
TORAH - Bilingual Edition: English/Hebrew (Annotated)Max Margolis, JPS28h 26m4.6 (1K)$2 · $0.00
The Poetic EddaJackson Crawford6h 24m4.5 (19.8K)$17
Betty Crocker picture cooky bookBetty Crocker, Inc. General Mills2h 13m4.5 (6.5K)$1 · $0.00
The Complete Tales of Beatrix PotterBeatrix Potter3h 36m4.5 (75K)$3 · $0.00
Anne of Green GablesL. M. Montgomery11h 1m4.5 (1.2M)$2.30 · $0.00
Supreme ClienteleAshley & JaQuavis8h 58m4.7 (3.4K)$20
Body Refinement in a Beast Tamer’s World, Book 1Seth Ring14h 7m4.7 (1.3K)$27
Desperate MeasuresBrenda Jackson8h 59m4.7 (669)$28 · $0.00
Searching For ThanksgivingS.E. Smith4h 24m4.8 (395)$20
Naughty 4Brenda Hampton7h 30m4.7 (726)$17
The Dance with Me TrilogyShelley Shepard Gray21h 44m4.7 (1.2K)$35
The DopemanJaQuavis Coleman5h 25m4.7 (3.8K)$20
BAEJahquel J.5h 22m4.7 (3.1K)$20
Dark RisingJeffrey Wilson, Brian Andrews13h 47m4.7 (1.3K)$27
WhistlerAnn Patchett10h 45m4.6 (4.6K)$29 · $0.00
Grand Opening 2Carl Weber9h 16m4.7 (2.4K)$20
Sons of Valor II: Violence of ActionBrian Andrews, Jeffrey Wilson12h 34m4.6 (3.6K)$23
Malevolent MagicMildred Abbott7h 13m4.7 (1.2K)$17
Bikes, Toys, and Hot BoyzGenesis Woods, Shantaé13h 9m4.7 (722)$23
This Side of Paradise - The Original 1920 Edition (Annotated)F. Scott Fitzgerald11h 30m4.6 (1.6K)$2 · $0.00
War LordBernard Cornwell13h 21m4.6 (33.1K)$33 · $0.00
Ghetto BastardK’wan7h 37m4.6 (2.9K)$20
The Great Gatsby: Original 1925 Edition (An F. Scott Fitzgerald Classic NovelFrancis Scott Fitzgerald4h 45m4.6 (9.3K)$18 · $0.00
The Vineyard BrideKatie Winters5h 5m4.6 (1.9K)$15
Something Like LoveBeverly Jenkins10h 21m4.6 (2.7K)$29 · $0.00
You may also like
Father GoriotHonore de11h 12m4.0 (83K)$3.50 · $0.00
Father GoriotHonoré de Balzac11h 12m4.0 (75.8K)$0.60 · $0.00
Old GoriotHonoré de Balzac10h 24m4.0 (64.7K)$20
BrightonMichael Harvey8h 28m3.8 (4.4K)$26 · $0.00
BROTHERLY LOVEPete Dexter2h 38m3.9 (1.1K)$18 · $0.00
Father GoriotHonoré de Balzac10h 3m4.0 (75.1K)Free
The Black SheepHonoré de Balzac11h 58m4.0 (3.3K)$1.20 · $0.00
Girls from da Hood 10Treasure Hernandez, Blake Karrington, T. C. Littles14h 5m4.1 (301)$23
Maggie A Girl of the StreetsStephen Crane2h 41m3.6 (16.7K)$2.30
Only God Can Judge MeJeff Pearlman16h 49m4.5 (1.7K)$40 · $0.00
Hoodlum 2K’wan7h 29m4.6 (1.2K)$20
An Outcast of the IslandsJoseph Conrad11h 1m3.6 (1.8K)$12 · $0.00
World Gone ByDennis Lehane9h 6m4.0 (32.8K)$29 · $0.00
Cousin BettyHonoré de Balzac17h 21m4.0 (12.6K)$2.30
When You Look Like UsPamela N. Harris8h 54m4.1 (2.6K)$29 · $0.00
The Last DonMario Puzo18h 53m3.8 (20.4K)$32
A CHILD OF THE JAGO (Old London Slum Series)Arthur Morrison6h 44m3.8 (1.2K)$2 · $0.00
Complete Novels of Fyodor Dostoyevsky (Unabridged) (Annotated)Fyodor Dostoyevsky225h 57m4.6 (2.9K)$1.99 · $0.00
DublinersJames Joyce7h 28m4.0 (225.6K)$4 · $0.00
Hot Water MusicCharles Bukowski5h 53m4.0 (19.1K)$24 · $0.00