Οι τέσσερις μέρες του Γιάννη Γκουρντόν

by Émile Zola, Φρίξος Ηλιάδης (translator)

"The Four Days of Jean Gourdon" (Les Quatre Journees de Jean Gourdon; 1874, in: Nouveaux Contes a Ninon) deserves to rank among the very best things to which Zola has signed his name. It is a study of four typical days in the life of a Proven al peasant of the better sort, told by the man himself... --- In the first of these it is "Spring" Jean Gourdon is eighteen years of age, and he steals away from the house of his uncle Lazare, a country priest, that he may meet his coy sweetheart Babet by the waters of the broad Durance... Next follows a day in "Summer," five years later; Jean, as a soldier in the Italian war, goes through the horrors of a battle and is wounded. This episode, which has something in common with the "Sevastopol" of Tolstoy, is exceedingly ingenious in its observation of the sentiments of a common man under fire... The "Autumn" of the story occurs fifteen years later. Jean and Babet have now long been married. They are rich, healthy, devoted to one another, respected by all their neighbours; but there is a single happiness lacking - they have no child. Only now, when the corn and the grapes are ripe, this gift also is to be theirs... The optimistic tone has hitherto been so consistently preserved, that one must almost resent the tragedy of the fourth day. This is eighteen years later, on a Winter's night: The river Durance rises in spate... --- It is impossible to give an impression of the charm and romantic sweetness of this little masterpiece. It raises many curious reflections to consider that this exquisitely pathetic pastoral, with all its gracious and tender personages, should have been written by the master of Naturalism, the author of "Germinal" and of "Pot-Bouille" ("Piping Hot "). (Edmund Gosse)

Genres: Classics, Fiction, Short Stories

96 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1874

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

[Magdalen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Impressive how he gives a fully developed story in such few pages.
Bittersweet and definitely moving.

[Έλσα · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 Μου θυμισε αρκετα την πλημμυρα! Ωραιος κ μεστος λογος! Δεν ειναι το καλυτερο βιβλιο του Ζολα. Ομως, η ιστορια κυλαει ευχαριστα και γρηγορα.

[Ivy-Mabel Fling · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novella surprised me as it turned out to be so different from the naturalistic tales we expect from Zola. It is almost lyrical and leads us through the four stages of life, using the protagonist, Jean Gourdon as an illustration of how we experience our four days (or seasons). Although not everything is positive in Jean's life, this story is a little masterpiece which I shall certainly read again.

[Δημήτρης Κώτσος · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ο Ζολά μέσα από τις τέσσερις εποχές παρουσιάζει τη πορεία ενός ανθρώπου και συνοψίζει την ουσία της ζωής, από τη γέννηση μέχρι το θάνατο με τις χαρές και τις λύπες που εναλλάζονται συνεχώς.
Η γραφή του είναι μοναδική!!!!

[مريم القحطاني · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good but too similar to his story The Flood.

[Alexcanislupus · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5

[Eadweard · Rating 4 out of 5]

A look at a man's life through four different days (stages), very good short story.