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Old Goriot
- Narrated by: Frederick Davidson
- Length: 10 hrs and 4 mins
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Old Goriot
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Summary
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 Vauquer’s Parisian boarding house. At first, his wealth inspires respect, but as his circumstances are reduced, he is gradually shunned. 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 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 Comédie humaine, the whole comedic parade of human life.
HONORÉ DE BALZAC (1799–1850), was born in Tours, France, educated at the Collège de Vendôme, and studied law at the Sorbonne. His father wished him to become a lawyer, but he left Tours in 1819 to seek his fortune as an author in Paris. He wrote eighty-five novels in twenty years, but his life was one of frequent privation. In 1850, he married Madame Hanska, a rich Polish lady with whom he had corresponded for more than fifteen years but had only just met in person. Five months later, Balzac died in Paris.
Critic reviews
What listeners say about Old Goriot
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- GAIL
- 22-03-18
100 books to read before you die...poor old Goirot
sound quality kept fading away. depressing story. interesting characters. glad I read it but glad it's over
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Reeshar S
- 18-10-17
Appalling sound quality.
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.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- Mrs D.
- 28-04-14
Gave up listening.
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.
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- Peter
- 29-01-15
Terrible
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!
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
- library
- 24-05-18
erformance is so awful
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.
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1 person found this helpful