Emile Zola

Émile Zola was a French novelist and the leading figure of the Naturalism literary movement in the late 19th century. Naturalism sought to portray life with scientific accuracy, focusing on the influence of environment, heredity, and social conditions on human behavior. Zola's works, including "Germinal" and "Thérèse Raquin," highlighted the struggles of the working class and explored themes of poverty, alcoholism, and moral decay. He believed that literature should reflect real life and reveal the harsh truths of society, often using detailed descriptions and a rigorous, almost documentary style in his storytelling.