The Downfall

by Émile Zola

Overview

"The Downfall", La Débâcle is a novel by Émile Zola published in 1892, the penultimate in les Rougon-Macquart series. The story is set against the background of the political and military events that ended the reign of Napoléon III and the Second Empire in 1870, in particular the Franco-Prussian War, the Battle of Sedan and the Paris Commune. (Excerpt from Wikipedia)

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9783958644694
Publisher:	Otbebookpublishing
Publication date:	01/31/2016
Series:	Classics To Go
Sold by:	Bookwire
Format:	eBook
Pages:	565
File size:	845 KB

About the Author

Émile Zola (1840-1902) was a towering figure in 19th-century French literature, renowned for his pioneering role in the naturalist movement. Born in Paris to an Italian engineer and a French mother, Zola's early life was marked by financial hardship following his father's untimely death. This struggle profoundly influenced his writing, which often depicted the stark realities of working-class life.Zola's literary career began in journalism, but he soon turned to novels, where his meticulous research and unflinching portrayal of social issues set him apart. His most famous work, the 20-novel series "Les Rougon-Macquart," explores the lives of a single family under the Second French Empire, delving into themes of heredity, environment, and the impact of industrialization.Zola was not just a novelist but also a social critic and activist. His involvement in the Dreyfus Affair, a political scandal that rocked France, showcased his commitment to justice and truth. His open letter "J'accuse…!" published in 1898, accused the French government of anti-Semitism and wrongful imprisonment of Alfred Dreyfus, a Jewish army officer. This act of courage made Zola a hero to many but also led to his temporary exile in England.Controversial and often polarizing, Zola's works were censored and criticized for their explicit content and bleak realism. Yet, his influence on contemporary writers like Theodore Dreiser and Frank Norris is undeniable. Zola's revolutionary ideas about literature's role in society continue to resonate, making him a timeless figure whose legacy endures in modern discussions about social justice and the power of the written word.
Émile Édouard Charles Antoine Zola; 2 April 1840 – 29 September 1902) was a French novelist, playwright, journalist, the best-known practitioner of the literary school of naturalism, and an important contributor to the development of theatrical naturalism. He was a major figure in the political liberalisation of France and in the exoneration of the falsely accused and convicted army officer Alfred Dreyfus, which is encapsulated in the renowned newspaper headline "J'accuse". Zola was nominated for the first and second Nobel Prize in Literature in 1901 and 1902. (Wikipedia)