Thérèse Raquin: Suivi d'Un Mariage d'Amour

by Émile Zola

"Thérèse Raquin" tells the story of a young woman, unhappily married to her first cousin by an overbearing aunt who may seem to be well-intentioned but in many ways is deeply selfish. Thérèse's husband, Camille, is sickly and egocentric, and when the opportunity arises, Thérèse enters into a turbulent and sordidly passionate affair with one of Camille's friends, Laurent.

Émile Édouard Charles Antoine Zola (2 April 1840 – 29 September 1902) was a French novelist, playwright, journalist, the most well-known practitioner of the literary school of naturalism, and an important contributor to the development of theatrical naturalism.

Genres: France

320 pages, Unknown Binding

Published August 31, 2011

About the author

Émile Zola was a prominent French novelist, journalist, and playwright widely regarded as a key figure in the development of literary naturalism. His work profoundly influenced both literature and society through its commitment to depicting reality with scientific objectivity and exploring the impact of environment and heredity on human behavior. Born and raised in France, Zola experienced early personal hardship following the death of his father, which deeply affected his understanding of social and economic struggles—a theme that would later permeate his writings.
Zola began his literary career working as a clerk for a publishing house, where he developed his skills and cultivated a passion for literature. His early novels, such as Thérèse Raquin, gained recognition for their intense psychological insight and frank depiction of human desires and moral conflicts. However, it was his monumental twenty-volume series, Les Rougon-Macquart, that established his lasting reputation. This cycle of novels offered a sweeping examination of life under the Second French Empire, portraying the lives of a family across generations and illustrating how hereditary traits and social conditions shape individuals’ destinies. The series embodies the naturalist commitment to exploring human behavior through a lens informed by emerging scientific thought.
Beyond his literary achievements, Zola was a committed social and political activist. His involvement in the Dreyfus Affair is one of the most notable examples of his dedication to justice. When Captain Alfred Dreyfus was wrongfully accused and convicted of treason, Zola published his famous open letter, J’Accuse…!, which condemned the French military and government for corruption and anti-Semitism. This act of courage led to his prosecution and temporary exile but played a crucial role in eventual justice for Dreyfus and exposed deep divisions in French society.
Zola’s personal life was marked by both stability and complexity. He married Éléonore-Alexandrine Meley, who managed much of his household affairs, and later had a long-term relationship with Jeanne Rozerot, with whom he fathered two children. Throughout his life, Zola remained an incredibly prolific writer, producing not only novels but also essays, plays, and critical works that investigated the intersections between literature, science, and society.
His legacy continues to resonate for its profound impact on literature and for his fearless commitment to social justice. Zola’s work remains essential reading for its rich narrative detail, social critique, and pioneering approach to the realistic portrayal of human life. His role in the Dreyfus Affair stands as a powerful example of the intellectual’s responsibility to speak truth to power.

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

good plot twist but it was loooong

[Estelle GOY · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un superbe travail d'écriture qui nous fait bcp nous questionner sur la place de la femme et qui révèle les défauts des hommes.
Côté psychologie pousse

[Marion · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lu en seconde. Je pense que c’est l’un de mes livres préférés de ma scolarité

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bien écrit très littéraire, sombre.

[ellywelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

adultery, murder and guilt that drives you to death. no one does it like the french

[Kathryn Newsham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book and narration.

[Tauriel_L · Rating 1 out of 5]

Lu pour le français…

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

it's Zola. full of details, we imagine the scenes with so much precision: it's incredible. perhaps a little too detailed for my liking, which may lose the reader.