Les Rougon-Macquart

Les Rougon-Macquart is a series of 20 novels written by French author Émile Zola, published between 1871 and 1893. The series explores the lives of a fictional family, the Rougon-Macquart, to illustrate Zola's theory of naturalism, which emphasizes how environment, heredity, and social conditions influence human behavior. Set during the Second French Empire, the novels depict various aspects of French society, including class struggles, poverty, and the impact of industrialization. Each book is interconnected, portraying different characters and stories, while collectively offering a broad critique of contemporary life and the human condition.