The Drunkard
Quick Summary
L'Assommoir, also translated as The Drunkard, is a novel by Émile Zola, published in 1877. It is part of his 20-novel Rougon-Macquart cycle, which chronicles the natural and social history of a family under the Second French Empire.1
The novel focuses on the devastating effects of alcoholism within a working-class Parisian neighborhood. It tells the story of Gervaise Macquart, a laundress, detailing her rise and eventual decline due to her struggles with alcohol. Zola's use of authentic slang and vivid descriptions of crowds lends power to his portrayal of the working class. L'Assommoir is considered one of Zola's most successful and enduringly popular works.1
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