قصة الكتاب :
\"Old Father Goriot\" is a novel written by the French novelist Honoré de Balzac who is considered the founder of realism in the European literature. He wrote drama as well as literary and art criticism, and published more than 91 novels. Balzac died at the age of 51 burdened with debt. He used to use pseudonyms and pass himself off for other persons to escape from his debtors. Balzac novels are a panorama of the French society with its rich social and artistic components. His novels are written in a romantic poetic style. The experience of living in Paris represents the milieu of these works.
This novel embodies a panoramic vision for the French society. Its plot takes place in a Boarding House in Paris (maison vauquer). The different floors board characters where each has a story with a social dimension. The place is owned by Mme. Vauquer who lives in the first floor together with the widow Mme. Couture, and the young lady Victorine. In the second floor lives an old man called Poiret and Monsieur Vautrin, an old merchant baldheaded man who uses a wig. In the third floor, lives an unmarried woman called Mademoiselle Michonneau and another woman who owns a vermicelli and Italian Pasta factory. Inmates in the rest of the rooms are students coming from rural areas who are fascinated by Paris glamour. In one of these rooms lives Goriot.
Goriot is the lead character who stirs speculations. It was obvious that the man has once been rich but, for some reason, he lost his fortune. This mysterious history makes a good topic for gossip among the inmates. From time to time he receives visitors in luxurious coaches. Later, it appeared that he had been exploited by his much loved daughters who, once be married, started to drain out his money. However, they both turned their back to him when he became bankrupted. Yet, Goriot kept blaming their husbands.
The novel is an analytical view for the strata of the Parisian society. Balzac style added charm that granted the novel prominence among the classic works due to the detailed depiction of the surroundings without compromising the cynicism of satire.