The Belly of Paris

"New York Times" bestselling author Mark Kurlansky's deft translation brings new life to Emile Zola's rich characters and stunning depiction of Les Halles, the food markets of 1850s Paris
"The Belly of Paris" is the dramatic story of Florent Quenu, a convict who has miraculously escaped imprisonment on Devil's Island after being falsely accused of a killing during a political demonstration. Back in Paris after his long confinement, Florent moves in with his brother's family in the newly rebuilt Les Halles market and is soon caught in a dangerous maelstrom of food and politics as the dramatic difference between "fat and thin" (the rich and the poor) becomes too obvious to ignore.
Mark Kurlansky's introduction celebrates Emile Zola's role as a "naturalist," describing his twenty-volume series of Rougon-Macquart novels, and the culinary delights of "The Belly of Paris."