Father Goriot

The story which takes place in Paris in 1819 focuses on the connected lives of three characters: the obedient elderly Goriot the enigmatic criminal-in-residence Vautrin and the gullible law student Eugène de Rastignac. Le Père Goriot which was first published in serial form over the winter of 1834–1835 is generally regarded as Balzacs most significant book. It represents the authors first significant usage of characters who had previously featured in other works a device that distinguishes Balzacs fiction.