Germinal

Germinal is a novel by Émile Zola that depicts the harsh realities of the coal miners' lives in 19th-century France. It explores themes of social struggle, workers' hardships, and collective efforts to improve conditions. The story follows Étienne Lantier, who joins a mining community and becomes involved in a workers' uprising. Through vivid characterizations and detailed descriptions, the novel highlights issues of poverty, exploitation, and solidarity, illustrating how collective action can challenge injustice. Overall, Germinal provides a powerful, realistic portrayal of labor struggles and the pursuit of social change.