L'assommoir by Émile Zola
The novel is a gritty portrayal of working-class life in 19th-century Paris, focusing on the struggles of Gervaise Macquart, a laundress who aspires to a better life. After her lover abandons her with two children, she marries a roofer, Coupeau, and they initially find happiness and modest prosperity. However, their lives spiral downward due to alcoholism, poverty, and the harsh realities of their social environment. The narrative delves into the impact of addiction on family dynamics and the broader community, painting a vivid and unflinching picture of the urban poor's descent into despair and degradation.
The 1199th greatest book of all time
- Published
- 1877
- Nationality
- French
- Type
- Fiction
- Pages
- 400-500
- Words
- 150,000
- Original Language
- French
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This book is on the following lists:
- 45th on The 500 best books of all time from Culture Café users (Culture Café)
- Harold Bloom's The Western Canon (The Western Canon (Book) by Harold Bloom)
- Landmarks of World Literature (Cambridge University)
- William H. F. Lamont’s 100 Best Novels (1947) (archive.org)