Father Goriot

Father Goriot (Le P�re Goriot) is an 1835 novel by French novelist and playwright Honor� de Balzac (1799-1850). Set in Paris in 1819, it follows the lives of three characters: the elderly Goriot; a mysterious criminal named Vautrin; and a law student named Eug�ne de Rastignac. The novel takes place during the Bourbon Restoration, which brought changes to French society; the struggle by individuals to secure a higher social status is a major theme in the book. Le P�re Goriot is considered Balzac's most important novel. It is 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.