Emile Zola was a major figure in French literature and society during the late 19th century. Here's a quick rundown:
- Novelist, journalist, and playwright: Zola is best known as a novelist, but he also wrote journalism and plays [Wikipedia].
- Champion of Naturalism: He was the leading figure of the literary movement called Naturalism, which applied scientific methods to the study of human behavior in fiction [Wikipedia].
- Famous Works: Some of his most famous novels include L'Assommoir (The Drunkard), Nana, and Germinal [Wikipedia].
- Dreyfus Affair Hero: Zola became a national hero in France for his courageous defense of Alfred Dreyfus, a Jewish army captain falsely convicted of treason [Wikipedia]. He famously wrote an open letter titled "J'Accuse…!" (I Accuse!) which exposed the anti-semitism and corruption behind the case [Wikipedia].
- Influence: Zola's work influenced writers around the world, including Guy de Maupassant and George Orwell [Wikipedia].
