I was lucky enough to have an incredible history teacher assign Germinal in 9th grade, and its violence and vividness blew away my young misperceptions about “classic”/“old” novels. I reread it last month on a lark and was amazed how much I still remembered, decades later… age/long COVID/weed dementia have done a number on my memory but Germinal was, apparently, seared into my brain. I decided to keep going and attempt more from the cycle, starting with Nana… I found it dazzling for a bit, but it became a slog and I put it down.
Anyhow I’ve been delighted by the coincidence of your Zola journey, and vindicated/let off the hook by your Nana assessment. The LRB piece was wonderful, and I’m excited to resume with one of your premium Zola choices… I’ll never finish the full cycle, but I can at least tackle your remaining faves.
After reading your essay, I went to see The Beast last night— a French movie based on HJ’s Beast in the Jungle. I disliked it, but in addition to the James connection parts of it resonated strongly with your brilliant observations about resurgent naturalism (and fatalism) in the present moment. Another nice coincidence, even if the movie was otherwise a slog.
Wait, I had no idea that that film was based on the James novella. that changes...everything. Well, it probably changes very little, but now I want to see it for a reason other than having a strange infatuation with George MacKay.
You might enjoy La Bête Humaine if you haven't read that one yet. It's a sort of shadow to Nana, I believe.
Write the Zola book! I'll buy it -- especially since François Camoin and I butted heads so hard on naturalism & realism while I was in grad school.
Eagerly awaiting the LRB piece in the post. Frankly, I think they're the best periodical out there these days -- congrats for the piece! and congrats to them for being smart enough to wait for as long as it took you to do it right.
It depends on what you're looking for. If you plan to read the whole cycle, it's best to start with Fortune of the Rougons. It really is.
If you're looking for more of a Jane Austen experience, I reccomend A Love Story. If you're looking for a more Edith Wharton experience, I recommend Potluck. If you're looking for something Highsmith-esque, I recommend La Bête Humaine. If you're looking for something Succession-coded, then go with Money or His Excellence Eugène Rougon or even The Kill.
A fun one is The Ladies' Paradise. People really love that and it's popular for a reason. If you want something A LIttle Life coded, then go with The Conquest of Plassans OR L'Assommoir.
If you want something a little more substantial and want to do a big investment, I'd read Germinal.
i really enjoyed the LRB piece!! i’ve read Germinal, The Ladies Paradise, and Nana over the last few months (i was also very ready for Nana to be over by the time it ended) and now i want to dive back into a new one
and please write a Zola book, i would definitely read it! regardless, i’m looking forward to any other Zola essays you post
Very exciting content! Your writing reminded me of a line in L’Œuvre which for me is one of the most crucial to the series - ‘we who no longer believe in God, still believe in our own immortality’. The characters are subject to the stated intention of the Rougon-Macquart, and yet are confronted by its limitations on every page. Their humanity manifests in a desire to create something inhuman, to transcend their material conditions, which Zola the author is able to manifest. In the LRB piece, it is so interesting how you describe Zola’s poetry of silence when silence seems so fundamentally at odds with writing, creating meaning through words. Almost every character in the series is fixated by this desire for more than their reality which utterly undermines the supposed point of the project, in the most beautiful and human way. I could say a lot more but suffice to say this made me think a lot.
A heroic undertaking! I can't wait to read in the paper LRB. Zola has a special place in my heart as he saved my undergraduate degree from ignominy. At the v last moment in my French modrn literature exam, I decided to write an essay arguing that Houellebecq's then pretty-new Atomised was a natural evolution of Zola's naturalism... and I got the best mark on that paper and scraped through. Probably because the marker hadn't read Houellebecq. But still. Go naturalism!
I mean I almost certainly wrote a load of absolute bollocks but still: I have always felt v affctionately towards Emile et Michel as a result. And I feel you are definitely on to something w/r/t Zola - especially w/ your scientific training... write that book!
I was lucky enough to have an incredible history teacher assign Germinal in 9th grade, and its violence and vividness blew away my young misperceptions about “classic”/“old” novels. I reread it last month on a lark and was amazed how much I still remembered, decades later… age/long COVID/weed dementia have done a number on my memory but Germinal was, apparently, seared into my brain. I decided to keep going and attempt more from the cycle, starting with Nana… I found it dazzling for a bit, but it became a slog and I put it down.
Anyhow I’ve been delighted by the coincidence of your Zola journey, and vindicated/let off the hook by your Nana assessment. The LRB piece was wonderful, and I’m excited to resume with one of your premium Zola choices… I’ll never finish the full cycle, but I can at least tackle your remaining faves.
After reading your essay, I went to see The Beast last night— a French movie based on HJ’s Beast in the Jungle. I disliked it, but in addition to the James connection parts of it resonated strongly with your brilliant observations about resurgent naturalism (and fatalism) in the present moment. Another nice coincidence, even if the movie was otherwise a slog.
Wait, I had no idea that that film was based on the James novella. that changes...everything. Well, it probably changes very little, but now I want to see it for a reason other than having a strange infatuation with George MacKay.
You might enjoy La Bête Humaine if you haven't read that one yet. It's a sort of shadow to Nana, I believe.
George MacKay spoke and did a little Q&A after the screening!
He’s clearly a conscientious and intelligent and handsome actor— that he did nothing for me in The Beast I lay squarely at the director’s feet.
Write the Zola book! I'll buy it -- especially since François Camoin and I butted heads so hard on naturalism & realism while I was in grad school.
Eagerly awaiting the LRB piece in the post. Frankly, I think they're the best periodical out there these days -- congrats for the piece! and congrats to them for being smart enough to wait for as long as it took you to do it right.
Holy smokes! That first paragraph! All you have done in two years moves me to put down the crossword and get to work!
You write the Zola, and I'll read it.
Deal
Come for the Zola, stay for the canny use of "pleiotropic" at just the right moment. Damn!
Any recs of where to start if you haven't read any of Zola yet?
It depends on what you're looking for. If you plan to read the whole cycle, it's best to start with Fortune of the Rougons. It really is.
If you're looking for more of a Jane Austen experience, I reccomend A Love Story. If you're looking for a more Edith Wharton experience, I recommend Potluck. If you're looking for something Highsmith-esque, I recommend La Bête Humaine. If you're looking for something Succession-coded, then go with Money or His Excellence Eugène Rougon or even The Kill.
A fun one is The Ladies' Paradise. People really love that and it's popular for a reason. If you want something A LIttle Life coded, then go with The Conquest of Plassans OR L'Assommoir.
If you want something a little more substantial and want to do a big investment, I'd read Germinal.
THANK YOU
I really enjoyed your Zola essay. I learned a lot and now I want to read some Zola.
Thanks so much, Roxane! I'm so glad you enjoyed it. 😭 Also, let me know which one you decide to read if you do dive into more Zola!
i really enjoyed the LRB piece!! i’ve read Germinal, The Ladies Paradise, and Nana over the last few months (i was also very ready for Nana to be over by the time it ended) and now i want to dive back into a new one
and please write a Zola book, i would definitely read it! regardless, i’m looking forward to any other Zola essays you post
Very exciting content! Your writing reminded me of a line in L’Œuvre which for me is one of the most crucial to the series - ‘we who no longer believe in God, still believe in our own immortality’. The characters are subject to the stated intention of the Rougon-Macquart, and yet are confronted by its limitations on every page. Their humanity manifests in a desire to create something inhuman, to transcend their material conditions, which Zola the author is able to manifest. In the LRB piece, it is so interesting how you describe Zola’s poetry of silence when silence seems so fundamentally at odds with writing, creating meaning through words. Almost every character in the series is fixated by this desire for more than their reality which utterly undermines the supposed point of the project, in the most beautiful and human way. I could say a lot more but suffice to say this made me think a lot.
Your LRB piece was outstanding. I am inspired to read your top recommendations!
A heroic undertaking! I can't wait to read in the paper LRB. Zola has a special place in my heart as he saved my undergraduate degree from ignominy. At the v last moment in my French modrn literature exam, I decided to write an essay arguing that Houellebecq's then pretty-new Atomised was a natural evolution of Zola's naturalism... and I got the best mark on that paper and scraped through. Probably because the marker hadn't read Houellebecq. But still. Go naturalism!
Wait, this is the best story I've ever heard, haha. Amazing! Naturalism saves the day once again.
I mean I almost certainly wrote a load of absolute bollocks but still: I have always felt v affctionately towards Emile et Michel as a result. And I feel you are definitely on to something w/r/t Zola - especially w/ your scientific training... write that book!
Congratulations!
Excellent essay! Would love to read a book about Zola by you!
Will read. It was an essay on realism and naturalism in 19th century French lit that got me into Cambridge nearly 40 years ago.
Marvelous! merveilleux!
Love LRB. Love seeing you in it. Inspiring me to read this ZOLA now too!
I look forward to reading the LRB piece! Congrats!