Father Goriot (Annotated)

This annotated edition of Balzac's Father Goriot explores the life of an old man who sacrifices everything for the sake of his ungrateful daughters, set against the gritty backdrop of a shabby Paris boarding-house. The narrative centers on Eugène de Rastignac, a young man striving for wealth and status, and Vautrin, a charismatic criminal who challenges conventional morality. Featuring a critical afterword and a biography of Balzac, this edition offers insights into the themes of ambition and the corrupting power of money, placing the novel at the heart of Balzac's Human Comedy and the evolution of modern literature.