The Rougon-Macquart series

The Rougon-Macquart series is a collection of 20 novels written by French author Émile Zola in the late 19th century. These books explore the lives of a fictional family, the Rougons and the Macquarts, in the context of French society during the Second Empire. Zola examines themes such as heredity, environment, and social influences, showcasing how these factors affect individual characters and their destinies. The series is renowned for its realistic portrayal of French life and its pioneering use of naturalism in literature, emphasizing the connection between biology and social behavior.