The Readers Review: Literature from 1714 to 1910 discussion

We continue our exploration of one of the roman-fleuve. For the next several weeks, we will be discussing a chapter each week.

1. We meet Aristide Rougon, who has changed significantly, live in luxury in Paris and has forgotten about his turbulent and progressive views from the novel 'The Fortune of the Rougons'. Do you find this transformation believable? Are money and power the two things that can corrupt any individual without exception?

2. Politics is still present here, but it seems to be overshadowed by personal desires and dramas. Which parts of this chapter did you find most intriguing?

3. What can you say about the relationship between Maxime and Renee? Is there a certain chemistry between them?

4. Do you see the seeds of brewing tragedy in this novel, especially in its final part?

5. Is it a risque topic Zola is hinting at in the first chapter of the book?

Post away, my dear friends. I hope many of you will participate in the discussion.

I had to look up a family tree of the Rougons to see who Aristide was and I agree that he doesn't seem to be the same person. The whole world is so removed from the dire poverty or shabby bourgeois settings of the first book. The over-the-top luxury of the palace reminded me of the royal christening in the 2nd book. Plenty of people in France are living in poverty while Renee is bored with her life.

The sensuality of this chapter is striking, especially in the description of the lush foliage and its effect on Renee. It seems to me she wants Maxime precisely because he's the one man who is not impressed by her, and he even seems to prefer the unattractive and unsophisticated girl.

My thoughts exactly, Robin.

I did the same thing because the transformation was nearly unbelievable, but then I recalled that he had had some bad experience when he had tried to support republicans and eventually big money and luxury spoil many people, so yes, I still consider this version of Aristide possible.

I'm planning to rejoin the read for La Curée. (Just a side note- I'd always misinterpreted/misunderstood the french title and assumed the book was about a priest, imagine my surprise on ordering the English version to find it was in fact "The Kill".)

I will admit to some challenges in following the opening chapter-the (seemingly) endless descriptions of settings and clothing and plants tended to make my mind wander and I needed to keep pulling myself back to the reading. My lack of a good grounding in french history also means a lot of the political discussion escapes me.

It is fascinating to realize how much of the Paris that we know today, the grand avenues and architecture, is of recent design and would have been controversial to those living through the transformation.

I am also struck by how distasteful and stifling Zola makes the luxuries and elegance of this world appear-usually in reading (or watching films) about the upper classes I would feel envious of the grand lifestyle of luxury and servants.

Is there ever any indication of how Aristide made his fortune? Do we know Renee's background or how old she is in this opening chapter or how she met Aristide?

Frances wrote: "I am also struck by how distasteful and stifling Zola makes the luxuries and elegance of this world appear-usually in reading (or watching films) about the upper classes I would feel envious of the grand lifestyle of luxury and servants."

The bourgeoisie seems to be the prime target for Zola, and yes, it is particularly obvious in this novel. The descriptions are long and detailed, but they do create the feeling of excessiveness.

Dagny wrote: "When we read The Kill recently at 19thCenturyLit, Lisa explained the term: "The title of the novel in French, La Curée, is a hunting term: it means the scrap of prey tossed to the hounds after they've run it to the ground and Zola used it to represent the 'scramble for political spoils and financial gain that characterized the Second Empire'." "

Thank you, Dagny. I did research the origin of the title, but I really do not know why I did not share it with the group. Oh, the age, the age ... :-)

Frances wrote: "I will admit to some challenges in following the opening chapter-the (seemingly) endless descriptions of settings and clothing and plants tended to make my mind wander and I needed to keep pulling myself back to the reading. My lack of a good grounding in french history also means a lot of the political discussion escapes me. …"

Normally copious description would bother me too, but Zola does it so well that I'm mesmerized. He pulls me right into Paris, engaging all my senses. I don't remember when I've experienced such a vivid interaction with an author before.

I also thought about Lawrence, but surprisingly it is temporal topsy-turvy. Because the human essence was a part of nature, Lawrence's description sound sincere and harmonious. Zola's, on the other hand, uses the same descriptions with the tongue-in cheek tone as if he is parodying Lawrence's style, BUT we all know this is not possible chronologically.