Who was Gabrielle-Alexandrine Meley?

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Black and white portrait of French novelist Emile Zola with glasses, a full beard, and mustache, wearing a suit and looking to the side. — Émile Zola French novelist Émile Zola.

Gabrielle-Alexandrine Meley was the wife of the French author Émile Zola. Before their marriage in 1870, she had been his companion and lover for nearly five years. Following their wedding, the couple assumed the care of Zola’s mother.1

Although their marriage lasted until Zola's death, the author engaged in a fourteen-year affair with Jeanne Rozerot, one of the couple's housemaids, starting in 1888. Rozerot bore Zola his only children, Denise and Jacques, who were eventually recognized by Alexandrine after her husband's death.1