The Cambridge Companion to Emile Zola (Cambridge Companions to Literature) [Paperback]

Brian Nelson (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0521543762 | ISBN-13: 978-0521543767 | Publication Date: March 12, 2007

Emile Zola is a towering literary figure of the nineteenth century. His main literary achievement was his twenty-volume novel cycle, Les Rougon-Macquart (1870-93). In this series he combines a novelist's skills with those of the investigative journalist to examine the social, sexual and moral landscape of the late nineteenth century in a way that scandalized bourgeois society. In 1898 Zola crowned his literary career with a political act, his famous open letter ('J'accuse...!') to the President of the French Republic in defence of Alfred Dreyfus. These newly commissioned essays offer readings of individual novels as well as analyses of Zola's originality, his representation of society, sexuality and gender, his relations with the painters of his time, his narrative art, and his role in the Dreyfus Affair. The Companion also includes a chronology, detailed summaries of all of Zola's novels, suggestions for further reading, and information about specialist resources.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"What emerges from this collection of essays for everyone - non-specialists and specialists like - is the passion which is always unleashed when reading Zola, and which shows no sign of diminishing a century on. By guiding us behind the scenes of his work with the aid of a range of critical approaches (genetic criticism, sociological criticism, feminist studies, amongst others) and of elegant but sound analysis, this book invites readers to immerse or reimmerse themselves in a prose which has lost nothing of its energy or vitality."
-Francoise Grauby, Australian Book Review

Book Description

Emile Zola is a major literary figure of the nineteenth century. These newly commissioned essays focus on Zola's originality, his works, his life and times and his role in the Dreyfus Affair. The Companion also includes a chronology, summaries of all of Zola's novels and suggestions for further reading.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 246 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (March 12, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521543762
• ISBN-13: 978-0521543767
• Product Dimensions: 6.1 x 8.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,055,570 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)