Emile Zola

mile Zola is widely regarded as one of the worlds greatest writers, whose reputation was reinforced by his historic intervention in the Dreyfus Affair. This book explores Zolas life and work and the ways in which these were determined by the traumatic history of his times. From humble beginnings, Zola's life was marked by the determination to succeed. Robert Lethbridge traces his development as a writer, including Zolas earliest texts and his novel-cycles, and further shows how Zolas extraordinary creativity extended from his journalism to experiments in the theatre and even his own operatic adaptations of his novels. Lethbridge offers the reader new perspectives, informed by the most recent research, which bring together Zolas writing and its historical context.