Lost Illusions

This is a great story of vanity's illusions that are never really lost. Only the characters who love the egoist become disillusioned. In the process, they gain freedom and modest prosperity.

I've just read and been bowled over by Pere Goriot, which is really where the Comedie Humaine starts. Naturally I'm keen to follow up what happened to Rastignac and Vautrin. I know they both turn up in about 20 other novels. Can anyone who has read far more than me tell me which novels I should turn to next to follow them, not in chronological order of writing, but chronological order of the life of the respective characters? Thanks for any help you can give. Peter Scott-Presland

Just read your message - so glad you enjoyed Old Goriot - Have you got Lost Illusions - I think Balzac characters start there - would like a more expert opinion!

thanks for your comments on Lost Illusions
does anyone know in which order the Human Comedy novels were written
I know he was writing fast in order to pay his debts,
I like the way the same characters turn up - and change!

can someone refresh my memory - the Chouans -
where does this come in?

it is me again - I have found out that Les Chouans was the first book he published 1829 - historical
Human Comedy starts with Le cure de Tours 1832
Eugenie Grandet 1833
Le Pere Goriot 1834
Lost Illusions 1843
Cousin Bette 1846
Cousin Pons 1847
His recurring characters from one book know chrs from another and lend reality to the text but each novel has its own autonomy.
I find him a fascinating writer - perhaps not perfect - (I think Jane Austen said he was a very bad writer), but he tells a good yarn!