About
Émile Zola (1840-1902) was a French writer and a major figure of Naturalism. After a childhood in Aix-en-Provence and a failed baccalauréat, he worked at Hachette before devoting himself to writing. His Rougon-Macquart cycle, twenty novels depicting society under the Second Empire, includes masterpieces such as L'Assommoir, Nana, and Germinal. As an art critic, he defended the Impressionists. In 1898, his open letter 'J'accuse…!' in L'Aurore denounced the injustice of the Dreyfus Affair, leading to his prosecution and exile in England. His work and commitment made him a central figure in French intellectual life.
* 1840-04-02 — † 1902-09-28
Major works
- Les Rougon-Macquart (1871-1893)novel cycle
- L'Assommoir (1877)novel
- Nana (1880)novel
- Germinal (1885)novel
- J'accuse…! (1898)open letter
Key milestones
- 1862Employed at the publisher Hachette, beginning his literary career.
- 1898Publication of 'J'accuse…!' in L'Aurore, denouncing the Dreyfus Affair.
- 1908Transfer of his ashes to the Panthéon.
Themes
NaturalismSocial determinismWorking classJusticeImpressionism
Sources: britannica.com · classes.bnf.fr · cambridge.org