Émile Zola

Keen to learn but short on time? Find out everything you need to know about the life and work of Émile Zola in just 50 minutes with this straightforward and engaging guide!

Émile Zola was the leading figure of the 19th-century literary movement of naturalism and remains one of France’s best-known and most celebrated authors. With his sweeping 20-novel cycle Les Rougon-Macquart and other novels such as Thérèse Raquin, he provided a meticulous depiction of the society of his time and aimed to study the impact of a range of social, environmental and biological factors on individuals. He also believed in writers’ responsibility to effect social change and bring about a better world, and took stances on a range of contemporary issues, notably the Dreyfus affair with his famous open letter J’accuse…!

In this book, you will learn about:

• The major historical, social and economic developments that influenced Zola’s work

• The main ideas and principles behind the literary movement of naturalism

• Zola’s most important works, the reception they met with and their impact on later authors

ABOUT 50MINUTES.COM | Art & Literature

The Art & Literature series from the 50Minutes collection aims to introduce readers to the figures and movements that have shaped our culture over the centuries. Our guides are written by experts in their field and each feature a full biography, an introduction to the relevant social, political and historical context, and a thorough discussion and analysis of the key works of each artist, writer or movement, making them the ideal starting point for busy readers looking for a quick way to broaden their cultural horizons.