Les Rougon-Macquart series

The Les Rougon-Macquart series is a twelve-volume novel sequence by Émile Zola that explores French society during the Second Empire. Through interconnected stories focusing on members of the Rougon and Macquart families, Zola examines how heredity and environment influence individuals’ lives, morals, and ambitions. Each novel tackles different social classes and themes such as greed, love, corruption, and poverty, providing a detailed and realistic portrayal of 19th-century France. The series aims to depict the complexities of human nature and societal change, emphasizing how personal circumstances are shaped by both genetic traits and the social environment.