- 148 pages
- English
- ePUB (mobile friendly)
- Available on iOS & Android
Claude's Confession
About this book
Claude's Confession (1865) is a novel by French author Émile Zola. Written at night while Zola was employed at Hachette, Claude's Confession proved scandalous upon publication and resulted in the loss of his job. Undeterred by the response to his literary debut, Zola took advantage of his newfound infamy in order to embark on a career as one of France's foremost experimental writers. Intent on exploring taboo and the lives of people on the edge of society, Zola crafts a narrative capable of illuminating the human condition while humanizing those typically disdained by the literary elite. Born and raised in Provence, Claude is shocked to find that the Paris of legend is a city mired in poverty, decay, and loneliness. As he struggles to make ends meet in order to pay for his tiny apartment, he takes notice of a young woman who lives in the same building as him. Although he knows she is a prostitute, his feelings for him grow stronger than the impulse to look down on her way of life. After months of silent longing, he opens his door to find her standing there, desperate for help after being evicted. Despite his limited income, he welcomes her inside, and their relationship soon develops into a passionate romance. Claude's Confession is a story of forbidden love, fading hope, and the false promise of modern life. Written at the very beginning of Zola's career, it shows the innerworkings of a young mind interested in subjects too often ignored by writers, a mind whose guiding principle is truth and truth alone. This edition of Émile Zola's Claude's Confession is a classic work of French literature reimagined for modern readers.
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Information
Table of contents
- Cover
- Title Page
- Copyright
- Contents
- I. A Mansarde in the Latin Quarter
- II. A Poet’s Longings
- III. The Young Harvest-Girl
- IV. Temptation
- V. Paquerette
- VI. Despair
- VII. Laurence
- VIII. A Mission from on High
- IX. The Course of Reformation
- X. The Embroidery Strip
- XI. On the Way to the Ball
- XII. The Public Ball
- XIII. An Acceptance of Reality
- XIV. Jacques and Marie
- XV. Biting Poverty
- XVI. Reminiscences
- XVII. Claude’s Love
- XVIII. Jacques’ Supper
- XIX. A Trip to the Country
- XX. A Bitter Avowal
- XXI. A Horrible Proposition
- XXII. The Shadows on the Wall
- XXIII. Practical Advice
- XXIV. Sad Reflections
- XXV. The Fair
- XXVI. At Marie’s Bedside
- XXVII. Marie’s Death
- XXVIII. Laurence’s Departure
- XXIX. Conclusion
- A Note About the Author
- A Note from the Publisher