Eugenie. Grandet. Old Man Goriot (Color Illustrations Edition)

Author: (French) Balzac
Publisher:
Publication Date: 2006-01-01
Features: Eugenie Grandet was completed in December 1833 and is one of the most important works in Balzac's La Comédie Humaine: Scènes de la vie de province. Balzac himself called it one of the "most outstanding sketches" in La Comédie Humaine. The novel depicts the family conflicts between Grandet, his wife, daughter, uncle, and nephew, profoundly revealing the monetary relationships within the bourgeoisie and broadly portraying the customs of provincial France in the first half of the 19th century. It creates the iconic artistic figure of Grandet, one of the four misers in the gallery of world literature. The novel fully embodies Balzac's rich artistic practice and creative style, marking a leap in his novelistic career. Père Goriot, published in 1835, is a representative of Balzac's long novels. The story unfolds through two parallel and intersecting threads: the emotional entanglement between Goriot and his two daughters, and the decline of the young student Rastignac. It realistically portrays a silhouette of French society during the Bourbon Restoration, critiquing the cold monetary relationships of the bourgeoisie and the of the human heart by money. Père Goriot fully reflects Balzac's artistic style, embodying the fundamental themes of La Comédie Humaine. Balzac used the "method of character reappearance" for the first time in this novel, with major characters from La Comédie Humaine such as Rastignac, Vautrin, and the Countess de Beauséjour making their appearances, thus unveiling the of La Comédie Humaine. The novel integrates psychological analysis, customs depiction, detailed characterization, philosophical discussion, and achieves high artistic achievement. In terms of both thought and art, it marks another leap in Balzac's novelistic creation. In 1999, it was selected for the "Ideal Reading List for Chinese Readers." It was also included in the "Lifetime Reading Plan" compiled by the American cultural figure Paul Fussell. Eugenie Grandet and Père Goriot are the two most renowned works in Balzac's La Comédie Humaine series. The former creates the iconic figure of Grandet, a miser obsessed with wealth and devoid of humanity, revealing the bloody rise of the bourgeoisie and the social vices and moral decay brought about by money worship. The latter critiques the parent-child and familial love built on money, delivering a powerful critique of a society swayed by materialism and moral decline. This book is part of the "Famous Authors and Translations" series, accompanied by two types of illustrations: one is a set of color illustrations before the main text, mostly precious images related to the author, the work, and the historical context; the other is a set of black-and-white illustrations drawn based on the plot of the work. Through these illustrations, readers not only create an intimate and relaxed reading atmosphere but also gain a comprehensive and concrete understanding of the rich connotations of world literary masterpieces. Additional features include a character list, a chronology of the author, and detailed annotations by the translator, which help readers overcome reading obstacles and learn related knowledge, enabling them to read world literary masterpieces comprehensively, deeply, and efficiently.