Emile Edouard Charles Antoine Zola, a prominent French writer of the nineteenth century, was not only the founder and advocate of naturalism, but also a champion for political liberalization in France. Renowned for his vivid and realistic portrayal of main characters in his novels, Zola received global acclaim for his down-to-earth storytelling. Beyond his literary pursuits, Zola was a theorist, poet, scientist, and optimist, identifying himself as a self-confessed positivist. During the Franco-German War, he made significant contributions to society, striving for a more equal and just world. Despite facing backlash from the French military and government for his open letter J’accuse, Zola remained steadfast in his pursuit of justice and righteousness. One of his most notable literary works, the collection of 20 novellas titled ‘Les Rougon-Macquart’, delved into the consequences of the Industrial Revolution, exploring themes of alcoholism, violence, and prostitution. This extensive body of work served as a powerful representation of the Second French Empire.
Quick Facts
- French Celebrities Born In April
- Also Known As: Émile Édouard Charles Antoine Zola
- Died At Age: 62
- Family:
- Spouse/Ex-: Alexandrine-Gabrielle Meley (m. 1870–1902)
- Father: François Zola
- Mother: Émilie Aurélie Aubert
- Children: Denise Zola, Jacques Zola
- Born Country: France
- Novelists
- Journalists
- Political ideology: liberal
- Died on: September 29, 1902
- Place of death: Paris, France
- Ancestry: Italian French
- Notable Alumni: Lycée Saint-Louis
- Cause of Death: Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
- City: Paris
- More Facts
- Education: Lycée Saint-Louis
Childhood & Early Life
Emile Zola was born in Paris in 1840 and spent most of his youth in Aix-en-Provence in the south of France. His father worked as a civil engineer there, specifically in the construction of a municipal water system. Zola attended Lycee Saint-Louis in Paris for his schooling. However, he failed the Baccalaureat exam twice, which was necessary for further studies.
Career
In 1862, Zola secured a job as a clerk in the publishing firm L.-C.-F. Hachette. He quickly rose to the advertising department. Alongside his job, Zola began writing articles on current affairs for various periodicals. In 1865, he published his first novella, “La Confession de Claude” (also known as Claude’s Confession). The controversial work drew attention from the public, police, and his employers, who disapproved of it.
After leaving his job at the publishing firm, Zola worked as a freelancer while also focusing on his own writing. During this time, he published two novels: “Therese Raquin” in 1867, a gruesome story of murder and its consequences, and “Madeleine Ferat” in 1868.
Zola was actively involved in the art scene during the 1860s and 70s, attending meetings of painters where art and its relationship with other theories and ideologies were discussed. He supported the work of artists such as Cezanne, Manet, Monet, Degas, and Renoir in his newspaper articles.
Zola’s interest in science led him to undertake a large-scale series of novellas known as the Rougon-Macquart series. The project consisted of 20 volumes, with the first installment, “La Fortune des Rougon,” published in 1871. Zola continued to publish one novel each year, completing the series in 1893. He also published treatises explaining his naturalist movement and theories on art, including “La Roman experimental” (The Experimental Novel) in 1880 and “Le Romanciers naturalistes” (The Naturalist Novelists) in 1881.
However, Zola’s novel “L’oeuvre” (The Masterpiece) in 1886 strained his relationship with Cezanne and other artists. The novel depicted the life of a painter who ultimately commits suicide, and Cezanne took offense as he related to the main character. This incident damaged their friendship.
Zola faced criticism for his work “La Terre” in 1887, which portrayed the gloomy lives of peasants. This led to a group of five disciples from his naturalist movement disavowing him in a policy published in La Figaro. He also faced backlash for his work “La Debacle” in 1892, which negatively criticized the French army and government policies during the Franco-German war. The book received rejection from both French and German audiences.
Major Works
Zola is best known for his open letter “J’accuse” (I accuse), published in the newspaper L’Aurore. In the letter, he accused the French general staff of wrongfully convicting Alfred Dreyfus, a Jewish French army officer, for subversion in 1894. Zola accused high-ranking military officers and the War Office of obscuring the truth about Dreyfus’s surveillance.
Personal Life & Legacy
Zola married Gabrielle-Alexandrine Meley, his lover of five years, in 1870. They took care of Zola’s mother and lived in Zola’s home in Medan, near Paris. The house became a famous gathering place for Zola’s disciples, including Guy de Maupassant and Joris-Karl Huysmans. Although Zola remained married to Alexandrine until his death, he had an affair with their housemaid Jeanne Rozerot for 14 years. After Zola’s death, Alexandrine recognized Jeanne and Zola’s children Denise and Jacques.
Zola died in 1902 from carbon monoxide poisoning, believed to be caused by faulty ventilation in the chimney. He was recognized as one of the acclaimed novelists in Europe and was known for his efforts to change society’s attitude towards the poor and persecuted. In 1908, the French government transferred his remains to the Pantheon, where he was laid to rest alongside other great French authors such as Victor Hugo, Voltaire, and Rousseau.
Trivia
Zola was a political apprentice to the renowned French writer Victor Hugo and supported him in his opposition to the corruption caused by Napoleon III’s monarchy. Gustave Flaubert, a French realist writer, served as Zola’s literary mentor and close friend. Zola’s enemies were initially blamed for his accidental death, but no legal proof was found. It was only a decade later that a roofer from Paris, on his deathbed, admitted to sabotaging the chimney in Zola’s house for political reasons.