Honore de Balzac: Where Not To Start

Books to avoid when starting to read Balzac and some books that I think make a better starting place.

[michaelmoore]

Thank you Brian for an interesting video, I am now tempted to try Balzac next year . Hope you and your family have an enjoyable Christmas and New Year. Kind regards.

[ProseAndPetticoats]

I started with Sarrasine. Loved it so much that I'm planning on reading all his novels. I fell in love with his writing style. Next one is Le lys dans la vallée. Amazing video, thank you!

[pasolero]

Thanks so much for this... exactly what I needed to hear. Cheers!!

[joeharris]

Ironically i started balzac with the wild ass’s skin. Saw on Wikipedia it was the last book freud read before his assisted suicide so i thought id give it a shot. It felt a bit extended at certain parts and rushed in others (especially the last 1/3 of the book) but I really enjoyed it and it got me hooked on Balzac. I will say it is a bit different than Balzac’s other works with the supernatural element but I think it has its own merit and was one of the more memorable books of Balzac that I read and I definitely will re-read it at some point in the future. I should note that I read the oxford classics edition, which had many pages of notes in the back.

[RoadReads]

I’ve been waiting for you to do the Balzac edition of this series! Thank you, Brian!!

[CourtneyFerriter]

Finally, the Balzac edition! Based on the three books you described for where to start, I think I am leaning toward The Black Sheep.

[MsReadsAlot]

There are 3 Balzac novels on my list! Pere goriot is one of them. Fantastic!! Very helpful ☺️

[SpringboardThought]

This is so good, Brian! Such a helpful framing and very astute. And valuable, for me, since I haven’t read Balzac. Only until the last few years have I wanted to pick up any classics. Millennial contrarian fever had me for decades, I guess.

[travelthroughstories]

Great video, Brian! I've been meaning to check out Balzac for years - this video is so useful.

[bookwhimsy]

I am so glad I didn't start with the wrong ones but now I really want to read Père Goriot.

[MishelleLexi]

I haven't really explored a lot of French classics yet, I really want to try out Balzac, Hugo, Zola and Dumas. I like that it seems like the French write a lot about class struggles.

[bouquinsbooks]

I was force-fed Old Goriot in college and did not like it at all. I didn’t touch Balzac for 20 years. Last year, I decided to give him another try. I read Eugenie Grandet and loved it. Then Colonel Chabert (loved it), and An Old Maid (an unmarried woman as an object of ridicule, not my cup of tea). I will read some more, and may even give another chance to Goriot.

[seriela]

I also had to read "Papá Goriot" in Spanish. Don't remember a thing. I hauled a few Balzac ever since Cousin Pons, which I enjoyed. Thanks for the guidance.

[malloryanderson]

The first book I read by Balzac was the NYRB edition of selected stories from 'The Human Comedy.' As a Chekhov fan, it was the perfect way to start reading through his oeuvre.

[Wafflelover]

I wish you talked about some of short stories too like A Passion in the Desert. The line about what the desert is like has stuck with me until now

[dqan]

Started Goriot a few nights ago. Instantly drawn in. "Unknown Masterpiece" does sound interesting.

[anotherbibliophilereads]

I’ve read a few Balzac: Old Geriot, Cousin Betty, and Wild Ass’s Skin. Lost Illusions is on my radar. I have a huge omnibus of Balzac, but the translations are old public domain so probably not the best.

[StephanieJCohen]

I started with Pere Goriot as recommended, and really enjoyed it! What should I read next?

[scallydandlingaboutthebook]

I love this series even when it is about an author I have already started.

[paulrowe]

Have you read the new MacKenzie translations of Lost Illusions and Lost Souls (A Harlot High and Low)? I might start with those.