The Fortune of the Rougons by Emile Zola

Well worth reading

Portrait of Emile Zola
by Edouard Manet

This book is the first novel in Zola’s twenty-novel masterpiece, the Rougon-Macquart cycle. Like all the books in the series, this one stands alone as a self-contained novel. It will be especially enjoyable, however, to those who have read some of the other books in this series, as many of the characters introduced in this book go on to “star” in their own novels. The story takes place in the fictional town of Plassans, based on Zola’s hometown of Aix-en-Provence. Zola begins the book by sketching the layout of the town, and its history, and then goes on to outline the first three generations of the Rougon-Macquart family tree. Because of the many characters introduced in this novel, there is no one main protagonist, but rather a series of intertwining story lines. These story lines range in tone from a biting cynical realism to an almost Victor Hugo-esque romanticism. The book takes place at the time of the coup d’etat in Paris which began the Second Empire under Napoleon III. At that time, various factions were competing for the throne of France—the Royalists, the Republicans, the Bonapartists. The citizens of Plassans, who only receive news from Paris through second-hand rumors, are choosing which side they are on as they await the outcome of the political upheaval in the capital. Their choices are based not so much on their political convictions, but rather on who they think will end up victorious. Everyone wants to be on the winning side of the battle so they can reap the political, financial, and social rewards once the smoke clears. What results is an in-depth study of the motivations of several fascinating characters, and a powerful meditation on ambition. How far is one willing to go to secure greater wealth and status for himself and his family? Is there a place for selfless conviction or heroism in a society based on such selfish concerns? Zola tackles these serious issues, while managing to inject a bit of humor into the proceedings as well. Fans of Zola’s better-known works will certainly enjoy this novel, but it can also be read and appreciated by those who are not familiar with Zola’s work at all. 
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