Father Goriot
Father Goriot, published by Honoré de Balzac in 1835, is set in a shabby Paris boarding house where a retired vermicelli merchant has spent his fortune on two married daughters who now barely acknowledge him. Among the lodgers are Eugène de Rastignac, an ambitious law student from the provinces, and the mysterious Vautrin, who offers Rastignac a cynical shortcut to wealth. Balzac follows the young man's education in the ways of society while Goriot's love for his daughters is exploited to the end. The novel is one of the central works of The Human Comedy and introduces characters who recur throughout it. It appears here in the English translation of Ellen Marriage. The full text is available to read online in your browser on Vinteuil, and the opening pages are free.
Start reading right away, without signing up. The complete text is included in Vinteuil Reading, or yours forever with a one-time purchase.
Frequently asked questions about Father Goriot
Father Goriot by Honoré de Balzac can be read online on Vinteuil, directly in your browser. The first chapter is free for everyone; the complete book is included in Vinteuil Reading ($4.99/month or $39.99/year) or yours forever for $2.99.
Can I read Father Goriot online?
Yes. Father Goriot opens right on this page, in a reader designed for long reading: adjustable text size, light, sepia and dark themes, a clickable table of contents and your place saved when you are signed in. No download or app is needed.
Is Father Goriot free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of Father Goriot is free, without an account. To read the whole book, either buy its online reading for $2.99 (£2.99 in the UK) and keep it forever, or subscribe to Vinteuil Reading for $4.99/month (£4.99/month in the UK) or $39.99/year, with 1 month free for new subscribers. The subscription opens every book in the library and can be cancelled at any time.
Is Father Goriot in the public domain?
Yes. Father Goriot by Honoré de Balzac is a public-domain work, here in the translation by Ellen Marriage. Vinteuil offers a carefully prepared digital edition made for comfortable reading on screen.
How long does it take to read Father Goriot?
About 6 h 55 min of reading, at an average reading pace. Your place is saved automatically when you are signed in, so you can read in several sittings and on several devices.
What kind of book is Father Goriot?
Father Goriot by Honoré de Balzac is filed under "Fiction" in the Vinteuil library.
