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 1820sтАФa perfect setting for Balzac's masterful portrayal of la comтФЬ┬оdie humaine, the whole comedic parade of human life.
Honor├й de Balzac (Tours, 1799-Par├нs, 1850) es uno de los novelistas m├бs relevantes de la primera mitad del siglo XIX franc├йs. Trabajador incansable y escritor prol├нfico por excelencia, elabor├│ un ciclo de varias decenas de novelas agrupadas bajo el t├нtulo de La comedia humana, con la intenci├│n de reflejar y describir en detalle la sociedad de su tiempo. De su enorme obra destacamos La piel de zapa (1831), El m├йdico de aldea (1833), Eug├йnie Grandet (1833), Pap├б Goriot (1834), C├йsar Birotteau (1837) o Las ilusiones perdidas (1837-1843).
Frederick Davidson (1932тАУ2005), also known as David Case, was one of the most prolific readers in the audiobook industry, recording more than eight hundred audiobooks in his lifetime, including over two hundred for Blackstone Audio. Born in London, he trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and performed for many years in radio plays for the British Broadcasting Company before coming to America in 1976. He received AudioFileтАЩs Golden Voice Award and numerous Earphones Awards and was nominated for a Grammy for his readings.