Episodes

  • 019 - Chapter 19

    019 - Chapter 19
    Feb 20 2026
    Father Goriot (Le Père Goriot), published in 1835, stands as one of Balzacs most celebrated and impactful novels. Set against the tumultuous backdrop of Paris in 1819, following Napoleons defeat and the restoration of the Bourbon monarchy, the story captures a society in flux, where the emerging bourgeoisie vie for status alongside the traditional aristocracy. At the heart of this narrative are Goriot, an aging father who obsessively lavishes love on his daughters; Vautrin, a mysterious criminal mastermind with his own agenda; and Rastignac, a determined young man from the provinces eager to decode the intricate social dynamics of Paris. Balzac’s brilliant portrayal of both physical and psychological nuances establishes this work as a cornerstone of realism in Western literature. - Summary by Bruce Pirie
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    31 mins
  • 018 - Chapter 18

    018 - Chapter 18
    Feb 20 2026
    Father Goriot (Le Père Goriot), published in 1835, stands as one of Balzacs most celebrated and impactful novels. Set against the tumultuous backdrop of Paris in 1819, following Napoleons defeat and the restoration of the Bourbon monarchy, the story captures a society in flux, where the emerging bourgeoisie vie for status alongside the traditional aristocracy. At the heart of this narrative are Goriot, an aging father who obsessively lavishes love on his daughters; Vautrin, a mysterious criminal mastermind with his own agenda; and Rastignac, a determined young man from the provinces eager to decode the intricate social dynamics of Paris. Balzac’s brilliant portrayal of both physical and psychological nuances establishes this work as a cornerstone of realism in Western literature. - Summary by Bruce Pirie
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    31 mins
  • 017 - Chapter 17

    017 - Chapter 17
    Feb 20 2026
    Father Goriot (Le Père Goriot), published in 1835, stands as one of Balzacs most celebrated and impactful novels. Set against the tumultuous backdrop of Paris in 1819, following Napoleons defeat and the restoration of the Bourbon monarchy, the story captures a society in flux, where the emerging bourgeoisie vie for status alongside the traditional aristocracy. At the heart of this narrative are Goriot, an aging father who obsessively lavishes love on his daughters; Vautrin, a mysterious criminal mastermind with his own agenda; and Rastignac, a determined young man from the provinces eager to decode the intricate social dynamics of Paris. Balzac’s brilliant portrayal of both physical and psychological nuances establishes this work as a cornerstone of realism in Western literature. - Summary by Bruce Pirie
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    44 mins
  • 016 - Chapter 16

    016 - Chapter 16
    Feb 20 2026
    Father Goriot (Le Père Goriot), published in 1835, stands as one of Balzacs most celebrated and impactful novels. Set against the tumultuous backdrop of Paris in 1819, following Napoleons defeat and the restoration of the Bourbon monarchy, the story captures a society in flux, where the emerging bourgeoisie vie for status alongside the traditional aristocracy. At the heart of this narrative are Goriot, an aging father who obsessively lavishes love on his daughters; Vautrin, a mysterious criminal mastermind with his own agenda; and Rastignac, a determined young man from the provinces eager to decode the intricate social dynamics of Paris. Balzac’s brilliant portrayal of both physical and psychological nuances establishes this work as a cornerstone of realism in Western literature. - Summary by Bruce Pirie
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    42 mins
  • 015 - Chapter 15

    015 - Chapter 15
    Feb 20 2026
    Father Goriot (Le Père Goriot), published in 1835, stands as one of Balzacs most celebrated and impactful novels. Set against the tumultuous backdrop of Paris in 1819, following Napoleons defeat and the restoration of the Bourbon monarchy, the story captures a society in flux, where the emerging bourgeoisie vie for status alongside the traditional aristocracy. At the heart of this narrative are Goriot, an aging father who obsessively lavishes love on his daughters; Vautrin, a mysterious criminal mastermind with his own agenda; and Rastignac, a determined young man from the provinces eager to decode the intricate social dynamics of Paris. Balzac’s brilliant portrayal of both physical and psychological nuances establishes this work as a cornerstone of realism in Western literature. - Summary by Bruce Pirie
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    37 mins
  • 014 - Chapter 14

    014 - Chapter 14
    Feb 20 2026
    Father Goriot (Le Père Goriot), published in 1835, stands as one of Balzacs most celebrated and impactful novels. Set against the tumultuous backdrop of Paris in 1819, following Napoleons defeat and the restoration of the Bourbon monarchy, the story captures a society in flux, where the emerging bourgeoisie vie for status alongside the traditional aristocracy. At the heart of this narrative are Goriot, an aging father who obsessively lavishes love on his daughters; Vautrin, a mysterious criminal mastermind with his own agenda; and Rastignac, a determined young man from the provinces eager to decode the intricate social dynamics of Paris. Balzac’s brilliant portrayal of both physical and psychological nuances establishes this work as a cornerstone of realism in Western literature. - Summary by Bruce Pirie
    Show More Show Less
    42 mins
  • 013 - Chapter 13

    013 - Chapter 13
    Feb 20 2026
    Father Goriot (Le Père Goriot), published in 1835, stands as one of Balzacs most celebrated and impactful novels. Set against the tumultuous backdrop of Paris in 1819, following Napoleons defeat and the restoration of the Bourbon monarchy, the story captures a society in flux, where the emerging bourgeoisie vie for status alongside the traditional aristocracy. At the heart of this narrative are Goriot, an aging father who obsessively lavishes love on his daughters; Vautrin, a mysterious criminal mastermind with his own agenda; and Rastignac, a determined young man from the provinces eager to decode the intricate social dynamics of Paris. Balzac’s brilliant portrayal of both physical and psychological nuances establishes this work as a cornerstone of realism in Western literature. - Summary by Bruce Pirie
    Show More Show Less
    42 mins
  • 012 - Chapter 12

    012 - Chapter 12
    Feb 20 2026
    Father Goriot (Le Père Goriot), published in 1835, stands as one of Balzacs most celebrated and impactful novels. Set against the tumultuous backdrop of Paris in 1819, following Napoleons defeat and the restoration of the Bourbon monarchy, the story captures a society in flux, where the emerging bourgeoisie vie for status alongside the traditional aristocracy. At the heart of this narrative are Goriot, an aging father who obsessively lavishes love on his daughters; Vautrin, a mysterious criminal mastermind with his own agenda; and Rastignac, a determined young man from the provinces eager to decode the intricate social dynamics of Paris. Balzac’s brilliant portrayal of both physical and psychological nuances establishes this work as a cornerstone of realism in Western literature. - Summary by Bruce Pirie
    Show More Show Less
    44 mins