Празникът в Коквил

by Émile Zola

Zola has rarely displayed the quality of humour, but it is present in the story called "The Fete at Coqueville" ("La Fete a Coqueville"). Coqueville is the name given to a very remote Norman fishing-village, set in a gorge of rocks, and almost inaccessible except from the sea. Here a sturdy population of some hundred and eighty souls, all sprung from two rival families, live in the condition of a tiny Verona, torn between contending interests. A ship laden with liqueurs is wrecked on the rocks outside, and one precious cask after another comes riding into Coqueville over the breakers. The villagers spend a glorious week of perfumed inebriety... A very amusingly and very picturesquely told story. With an essay by Edmund Gosse about "The Short Stories of Zola."

Genres: Classics, Short Stories, Fiction, France

188 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1907

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

[Lyudmila Spasova · Rating 5 out of 5]

Изключително забавни разкази, умрях от смях!

[Dominik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zabawna opowieść o tym, jak to procenty ukryte w cieczach zdatnych do picia zbliżają do siebie ludzi, czasami nawet tych z przeciwnych biegunów. Zaiste, że tak różnie można reagować na słowo "procenty". Tutaj przyczyniają się do wesołości, a w banku przy kredycie przyprawiają o ból głowy. Oj przepraszam... ból głowy pojawia się także w pierwszym przypadku, tylko następnego dnia. ;-)

[SJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was fun to see a more playful side to Zola. I really enjoyed this tale of the fishing village, which started catching alcohol in their nets instead of fish!

[Rafal Zielinski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lekka, przyjemna, zabawna.

[Uygar Ak · Rating 3 out of 5]

eglenceli

[Susan Molloy · Rating 4 out of 5]

🖋️ I would not say this was an hilariously humorous story, but it was amusing in a broad sense. However, Zola has a descriptive and smooth style of writing. Perhaps the original French, this story will be better presented. Qui sait?

💣This author is on The Roman Index of Forbidden Books by Franci S. Betten.
📙Published in 1907.
🟢The e-book version can be found at Project Gutenberg.
🟣 Kindle.
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[David]

Amazing French Society Club learning manuel.