The Cambridge Companion to Zola

Paperback / softback

Main Details

Title The Cambridge Companion to Zola
Authors and Contributors      Edited by Brian Nelson
SeriesCambridge Companions to Literature
Physical Properties
Format:Paperback / softback
Pages:246
Dimensions(mm): Height 156,Width 225
Category/GenreLiterary studies - c 1800 to c 1900
Literary studies - fiction, novelists and prose writers
ISBN/Barcode 9780521543767
ClassificationsDewey:843.8
Audience
Tertiary Education (US: College)
Professional & Vocational
Illustrations Worked examples or Exercises

Publishing Details

Publisher Cambridge University Press
Imprint Cambridge University Press
Publication Date 15 February 2007
Publication Country United Kingdom

Description

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. The essays in this volume 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.

Author Biography

Brian Nelson is Professor of French Studies at Monash University, Melbourne.

Reviews

'Will doubtless become an indispensable tool for researchers and students. ...remarkably coherent volume...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.' Australian Book Review