Father Goriot by Honoré de Balzac
"Father Goriot" is a classic French novel that explores the themes of wealth, power, love, and social status in 19th century Paris. The narrative follows the lives of three main characters: a young, ambitious law student who seeks to rise above his modest background; an elderly, once-wealthy man who has sacrificed everything for his two ungrateful daughters; and a crafty, ruthless criminal who manipulates others for his own gain. Their stories intertwine in a boarding house, revealing the harsh realities of Parisian society and the destructive power of unchecked ambition and selfishness.
The 228th greatest book of all time
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Total Points: 1371
This book was first published in 1835
26 Lists
- score: 200 -- Top 100 Works in World Literature - 2002 (Weight: 200)
- score: 190 -- 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die - 2006 (Weight: 180)
- score: 169 -- Harenberg Buch der 1000 Bücher - 2005 (Weight: 160)
- score: 148 -- 1000 Novels Everyone Must Read - 2009 (Weight: 140)
- score: 100 -- As if You Don't Have Enough to Read, Fiction Edition - 2011 (Weight: 100)
- score: 94 -- Have You Read 100 Great Books? - 1950 (Weight: 89)
- score: 94 -- Fifty French Writers Choose Their Favorite 10 Books - Honourable Mention - 2022 (Weight: 89)
- score: 74 -- William H. F. Lamont’s 100 Best Novels (1947) - 1947 (Weight: 70)
- score: 63 -- Harold Bloom's The Western Canon - 1994 (Weight: 60)
- score: 50 -- The 101 Favorite Novels of 'Le Monde' Readers - 2019 (Weight: 50)
- score: 40 -- The Books That Built The French - 2004 (Weight: 40)
- score: 33 -- The Novel 100: A Ranking of the Greatest Novels of All Time - 2004 (Weight: 30)
- score: 31 -- The New Lifetime Reading Plan - 1999 (Weight: 30)
- score: 10 -- C.K. Shorter List of Best 100 Novels - 1898 (Weight: 10)
- score: 10 -- W. Somerset Maugham’s Ten Greatest Novels of All Time - 1954 (Weight: 10)
- score: 10 -- Masterpieces of World Literature - 1991 (Weight: 10)
- score: 10 -- One Hundred Best Books (1916) - 1916 (Weight: 10)
- score: 10 -- The 100 Best Novels in Translation by Boyd Tonkin - 2019 (Weight: 10)
- score: 10 -- The 100 Greatest Novels - 2007 (Weight: 10)
- score: 10 -- The Telegraph’s 100 Novels Everyone Should Read - 2009 (Weight: 10)
- score: 1 -- Our Users' Honorable Mention Favorite Books of All Time - 2024 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- The Complete 500: OCLC - 2024 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- 1,000 Books to Read Before You Die: A Life-Changing List - 2018 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- 100 Best Novels in the World (Published in 1899) - 1899 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- Landmarks of World Literature - 2012 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- 501 Must-Read Books - 2006 (Weight: 1)