FATHER GORIOT

Bill Homewood's narration brings new life to the tragic story of Goriot, a father who lives in poverty so that his two daughters can be happy. Homewood's deep voice and melodic cadence carry the listener through the prose. He pronounces the French names quite naturally, and his vocal characterizations faithfully render Balzac's creations. Set in a Parisian boardinghouse, the story offers a range of characters from the young law student, who speaks quickly with youthful earnestness, to the hardened criminal, who speaks slowly with acute sarcasm. Homewood portrays Goriot sympathetically, giving him a voice that is somewhat strained and pitiful. However, he always sounds as if he is smiling when speaking of his daughters. Homewood's profound characterization of Goriot makes this audiobook particularly memorable. D.M.W. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine [Published: FEBRUARY 2019]