Reading the Classics #30: Honore de Balzac
Wow, 30. That's a lot. I learned yesterday that even after all the posts, I still have some devoted friends and fans, so Shoutout to y'all for encouraging me in this! Let me know in the comments who should be in the next 10 posts (If I even get that far, which I would like to do).
So, this post is on Honore de Balzac. Weird name, right? Well, he was French, and lived from 1799 to 1850, during the time of Napoleon and the Napoleonic Wars. What is he best known for? He's not famous for one certain book, but rather for a series of books called The Human Comedy. Just because it says Comedy doesn't mean they're funny; Comedy used to refer to a story that ended happily. The Human Comedy is a collection of novels that, while not necessarily connected, present a complete picture of everyday life in France through different tales and people. They can be read in any order. I don't know of any other author who did something like this, so Balzac is quite unique in this aspect. But, let me talk about the only book of his that I've read.
1. Pere Goriot
This book is also known as Old Man Goriot, so don't be confused by the title. Published in 1835, Pere Goriot is indeed part of The Human Comedy. The story revolves around the characters living in a boarding-house in Paris; a law student named Eugene de Rastignac, a mysterious man named Mautrin, and old man Goriot himself, who has gone bankrupt paying for his daughter's debts, constitute the main characters. Most of the plot involves romance between the men at the inn and Goriot's daughters, with a bit of crime and quarreling mixed in to spice things up. The ending surprised me, and I was left with mixed emotions; of course, my lips are sealed as to what actually happens. In terms of writing style, Pere Goriot is not written as well as something Dumas would write, but it's not necessarily dull. I liked the story, but I'm afraid I can't say it was amazing.
Do I plan to ever read more of Honore de Balzac and The Human Comedy? Of course, I'm a nerd, that's my job! XD. But yeah, I do have a few I'd like to read, mostly Lost Illusions and The Black Sheep. If I do read more, then you'll hear about it the next Update (Which would probably be after Post #40). But the future is always uncertain, particularly in the case of Avengers: Endgame, but that's a different story. Here's the French Timeline for you to look at, consisting of books from Gaston Leroux, Alexandre Dumas, and Honore de Balzac. See you next time!
1835- Pere Goriot by Honore de Balzac
1844- The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas
1845- The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
1847- The Man in the Iron Mask by Alexandre Dumas
1910- The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux
