Money

Written by Emile Zola

Narrated by Kenny Davis

Émile Zola was a French novelist and journalist who lived in the 19th century. Money was a recurring theme in many of his works, including his most famous series of novels, Les Rougon-Macquart.

In Les Rougon-Macquart, Zola explored the impact of money on French society during the Second Empire, a period of rapid industrialization and economic growth. He depicted the corrupting influence of money on individuals and society, and the destructive consequences of greed and avarice.

In his novel L'Argent (Money), Zola examines the world of finance and speculation in Paris during the 1860s. The novel follows the rise and fall of the powerful financier Aristide Saccard, who uses his wealth and influence to manipulate the stock market and exploit the working class. Zola portrays Saccard as a symbol of the excesses and immorality of capitalism, and shows how his pursuit of money ultimately leads to his downfall.

Overall, Zola's works provide a critical commentary on the role of money in society and the dangers of unchecked capitalism. His writings continue to be studied and appreciated for their insight into the complex relationship between money, power, and human behavior.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Loudly
• Release date: Apr 12, 2023
• ISBN: 9781987113310

Emile Zola

Émile Zola was a French writer who is recognized as an exemplar of literary naturalism and for his contributions to the development of theatrical naturalism. Zola’s best-known literary works include the twenty-volume Les Rougon-Macquart, an epic work that examined the influences of violence, alcohol and prostitution on French society through the experiences of two families, the Rougons and the Macquarts. Other remarkable works by Zola include Contes à Ninon, Les Mystères de Marseille, and Thérèse Raquin. In addition to his literary contributions, Zola played a key role in the Dreyfus Affair of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. His newspaper article J’Accuse accused the highest levels of the French military and government of obstruction of justice and anti-semitism, for which he was convicted of libel in 1898. After a brief period of exile in England, Zola returned to France where he died in 1902. Émile Zola is buried in the Panthéon alongside other esteemed literary figures Victor Hugo and Alexandre Dumas.