The Assommoir, The Prelude To Nana

The Assommoir is a novel written by the French author Emile Zola and was published in 1884. The book is considered a prelude to his later work Nana, which was published in 1880. The Assommoir is a realistic novel that explores the lives of the working-class people in Paris during the 19th century.The story revolves around the life of Gervaise Macquart, a young woman who moves to Paris with her lover Lantier. Gervaise is a hardworking laundress who dreams of owning her own laundry business. However, her life takes a turn for the worse when Lantier abandons her and she is left to raise their two children alone.Gervaise struggles to make ends meet and falls into a cycle of poverty, alcoholism, and despair. She becomes involved with a group of people who frequent a local bar called the Assommoir, where they drink and gamble away their money. Gervaise becomes addicted to alcohol and her life spirals out of control.The novel explores themes of poverty, addiction, and the struggles of the working class. Zola's writing is known for its gritty realism and vivid descriptions of the harsh realities of life in Paris during the 19th century.Overall, The Assommoir is a powerful and poignant novel that offers a glimpse into the lives of those who lived on the fringes of society during a time of great social and economic change. It is a must-read for anyone interested in French literature, social history, or the human condition.With Notes Upon The Assommoir.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.