What Balzac book should I start with?

March 16, 2005 7:18 AM

ClassicLitFilter: I've been wanting to try out some of Honore de Balzac's books but don't know where to start - suggestions? Thanks in advance!
posted by Dallasfilm to Media & Arts (7 answers total)

Pere Goriot is wonderful - it's in my top ten, possibly even top five. Highly recommended. Thanks for reminding me about it; I'm going to start rereading it tonight!
posted by iconomy at 7:33 AM on March 16, 2005 [1 favorite]

PG is a good place to start. It treats many of the repeating themes of the Human Comedy, and introduces several recurring characters.

There is also an etext of introductions to Balzac floating around that was put together by the Project Gutenberg folks.
posted by OmieWise at 7:51 AM on March 16, 2005

I remember liking Wild Ass's Skin.
posted by princelyfox at 7:56 AM on March 16, 2005

I third Pere Goriot, but it's the only Balzac I've read, so there's not much depth to my recommendation.
posted by LionIndex at 8:17 AM on March 16, 2005

The Magic Skin was interesting (I think it's just an alternate title for The Wild Ass's Skin).
posted by rokabiri at 9:09 AM on March 16, 2005

Response by poster: Thanks for the suggestions!
posted by Dallasfilm at 10:06 AM on March 16, 2005

Cousin Bette is a good follow up to Pere Goriot.
posted by jewishbuddha at 11:47 AM on March 16, 2005