Pere Goriot: A Norton Critical Edition delves into the profound narrative of Honoré de Balzac’s Père Goriot. This text is complemented by an insightful introduction that provides context for the novel within Balzac’s broader literary world and a detailed map of Paris, aiding readers in understanding the setting. The edition also features textual annotations, enhancing comprehension with notes from the editor. Additionally, “Responses: Contemporaries and Other Novelists” section highlights the immense influence of Père Goriot on subsequent literature, including contributions from notable writers such as Charles Baudelaire, Hippolyte Taine, Émile Zola, and Marcel Proust. The comprehensive “Twentieth-Century Criticism” section further enriches the reader’s understanding with critical writings by renowned scholars like Ernst Robert Curtius, Albert Béguin, Erich Auerback, Georges Poulet, Michel Butor, Louis Chevalier, Pierre Barbéris, Peter Brooks, Sandy Petrey, Nicole Mozet, and Janet L. Beizer. Spanning 370 pages, this edition offers a rich tapestry of insights into one of Balzac’s most compelling works.