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Old Goriot

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Old Goriot

By: Honoré de Balzac
Narrated by: Frederick Davidson
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Balzac's universally loved novel explores the great theme of money and its effect on the human character. Old Goriot is a lodger at Madame Vanquer's Parisian boardinghouse. At first, his wealth inspires respect, but as his circumstances are reduced, he is gradually shunned by the others. He moves into smaller and less desirable rooms in the house, and soon his only remaining visitors are two beautiful young women. The mystery as to who they are and what is happening to Goriot's fortune involves several other boarders, including Eugene Rastignac, an ambitious youth who hopes to rise in society.

With its complicities and alliances, mysteries and betrayals, passions and ambitions, the house becomes a microcosm of the grasping Parisian society of the 1820s—a perfect setting for Balzac's masterful portrayal of la com├®die humaine, the whole comedic parade of human life.

(P)1999 Blackstone Audio, Inc. Classics Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Money Mystery
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Critic reviews

“The greatest novelist who ever lived.”

(W. Somerset Maugham, on Honoré de Balzac)

“A man of genius.”

(Victor Hugo, on Honoré de Balzac)

“[A] meticulously observed story of love and greed…Reminiscent of King Lear, it also resonates today with the clarity of the poet’s barbed pen…Frederick Davidson is brilliant, deadening his voice for the dreadful daughters and their ghastly husbands, as well as portraying each ridiculous tenant in the boardinghouse…But it is Goriot’s deathbed scene that causes the hairs to rise on the backs of listeners’ neck. Listeners…cannot remain unmoved.”

(AudioFile)
All stars
Most relevant
sound quality kept fading away. depressing story. interesting characters. glad I read it but glad it's over

100 books to read before you die...poor old Goirot

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Try to find a different version of this book. This version is well read but sounds like an old audio cassette that had been played too much and kept in the sun for too long.

Appalling sound quality.

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performance is the worst i have ever experienced. i read the book, but i could not listen to it. i wish i could give minus stars. awful.

erformance is so awful

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What didn’t you like about Frederick Davidson’s performance?

I wish I had read the review regarding the irritating French pronunciation before I wasted a credit on it.

Gave up listening.

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Would you try another book written by Honoré de Balzac or narrated by Frederick Davidson?

I believe that Fred Davidson is dead - which comes as something of a relief to know that he will not be murdering any more good literature by his appalling style of narration

What could Honoré de Balzac have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Another narrator - possibly somebody who understands French - would be a god start!

How did the narrator detract from the book?

I found it quite impossible to listen to this book!

Any additional comments?

I require a refund, please!

Terrible

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