L'Assommoir
by Emile Zola
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Book Summary Information
Author: Emile ZolaEdition: Paperback
Audio: French (Published)
Published: 1990-10-01
ISBN: 0785914862
Number of pages: 568
Publisher: French & European Pubns
Book Reviews of L'Assommoir
Book Review: real or exaggerated?
Summary: 5 Stars
This represents Zola at his best!
It is intended to be a real depiction of Parisian working class society in 19th century. criticized after publication for its vulgar language and over exaggerating the alcohol addiction among working people .
the story is tragic and predictable. it is about Gervaise; a pretty young girl who will be abandoned by her lover, Lantier shortly after moving to Paris from the country, leaving her with 2 children and no money .she recovers and starts a new life working as laundress with strong determination not be tempted by another man again. however, in the magical world inside the L'Assommoir (a French pub that sells cheap alcohol), she will be soon dragged to another relationship with Coupeau,an honest looking roofer,that will end up in marriage.
Zola's mastery of "naturalism" is shining in the beautiful detailed description of the wedding feast and the cheap ceremony(that has a chaotic trip to the Louvre).
happy years pass and the family thrives, they buy their dream workshop and life looks sweet till a tragic fall from high building leaving Coupeau temporarily disabled.The fate of the family changes afterwards to the worst with rapid decline after the monster of alcohol prevails.
The husband becomes alcoholic and dies in misery, their daughter becomes ,in sequel novel, a prostitute, their workshop will be closed and worst of all she will be lost at the end to alcoholism leading to the expected poverty,starvation,weariness, destitution and degradation.
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