An 1885 French novel suggested by a friend about an opportunistic young man hustling his way through life in France eventually profiting from the war in Morocco. Very lengthy as novels at that time were.
The main character is a ruthless, despicable social climber, but his ascent from penniless ex-soldier to Parisienne society elite is fascinating. A satisfying mix of careful plotting, character development, realistic description and social commentary.
Oh, how I love a good, chunky 19th-novel!