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blueyorkie 's review for:
L'Assommoir
by Émile Zola
Beware, reading the "Assommoir" can cause drunkenness!
Bending to turn the pages; drunk to know what hides the social violence. Black intoxication is painful, raising the discomfort and returning to the brain.
Why is this tome one of the most famous of this author? Every reader who has appreciated it can bring their answer to this question. For my part, I explain this success by the fascination with the worst it generates in the reader. This one was the case for me.
As always with Zola, human nature is naked, crudely. The absolute master of naturalist literature reveals in this novel all the darkness of souls who know neither moderation nor charity and even less reason.
In this 7th volume of Rougon-Macquart, the main character that the reader will follow (and which he is likely to attach) is Gervaise Macquart, the granddaughter of Adelaide Fouqué's root-strain of the family. All action of the novel takes place in Paris, in a working environment uncompromisingly described. This book has caused a stir in public opinion at its publication!
Gervaise is a washerwoman, a brave hard-working girl, yet the archetype of the one "who never has luck", so expect a Zola "black from black". Mistreated by men who share her life, her goodness and endurance make them go through many trials. Even lead her on the road to success. Still, it is not counting on the "vices" to which man has so much ease in slipping: idleness and laziness, alcoholism, egoism and waste. Gervaise's energy and patience will not succeed; it is towards the social abyss that all her family directs her steps.
Well, I'll stop there. You will understand the tone of the novel.
I will finish giving you my opinion. Stunning "piece" of literature, work that "stirs the guts" in-depth, "l'Assommoir" remains for me a staple of Zola, one of his most exceptional writings, in his likeness: challenging, realistic and moving.
Bending to turn the pages; drunk to know what hides the social violence. Black intoxication is painful, raising the discomfort and returning to the brain.
Why is this tome one of the most famous of this author? Every reader who has appreciated it can bring their answer to this question. For my part, I explain this success by the fascination with the worst it generates in the reader. This one was the case for me.
As always with Zola, human nature is naked, crudely. The absolute master of naturalist literature reveals in this novel all the darkness of souls who know neither moderation nor charity and even less reason.
In this 7th volume of Rougon-Macquart, the main character that the reader will follow (and which he is likely to attach) is Gervaise Macquart, the granddaughter of Adelaide Fouqué's root-strain of the family. All action of the novel takes place in Paris, in a working environment uncompromisingly described. This book has caused a stir in public opinion at its publication!
Gervaise is a washerwoman, a brave hard-working girl, yet the archetype of the one "who never has luck", so expect a Zola "black from black". Mistreated by men who share her life, her goodness and endurance make them go through many trials. Even lead her on the road to success. Still, it is not counting on the "vices" to which man has so much ease in slipping: idleness and laziness, alcoholism, egoism and waste. Gervaise's energy and patience will not succeed; it is towards the social abyss that all her family directs her steps.
Well, I'll stop there. You will understand the tone of the novel.
I will finish giving you my opinion. Stunning "piece" of literature, work that "stirs the guts" in-depth, "l'Assommoir" remains for me a staple of Zola, one of his most exceptional writings, in his likeness: challenging, realistic and moving.