| | Germinal (French Language Edition) |  | Author: Emile Zola
Publisher: French & European Pubns
Category: Book
This item is no longer available
Avg. Customer Rating:  9 reviews
Media: Paperback
Pages: 356
ISBN: 0785914994
EAN: 9780785914990
ASIN: 0785914994
Publication Date: October 1, 1974
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| Customer Reviews:
| Showing reviews 6-9 of 9 | | « PREV | | |
An emotional rollercoaster January 27, 2005
7 out of 8 found this review helpful
This is the 5th novel by Zola I have read and the best yet. The novel takes you on an emotional rollercoaster as you accompany the Maheu family through their bitter struggle to survive life in a French mining village. Their lot is a terrible one but Zola paints a picture of real people who feel love, jealousy, desire, greed and pride and whom you care about. Their animal existence is shocking and as usual Zola paints a vivid picture of their surroundings which draws you in completely. The novel contains many strands and Zola also scrutinises the lives of the masters who seem immune to the suffering of their workers and whose families cause them the same grief and strife as the miners whom they consider to be a different species. Its a dramatic novel which is beautifully written and most importantly its a storyline that will have you on the edge of your seat.
Quite chilling. November 16, 2003
13 out of 14 found this review helpful
I came across this book on one of the Open University literature courses. It tells a harrowing tale of life in a mining community as the workers gradually starve and are forced into desperate measures for their survival when a new worker, Etienne Lantier, arrives and eventually masterminds a strike against the worsening working conditions endured underground, and the devious new pay structure. The backbreaking working life of the miners is accurately and chillingly portrayed, (you'll never want to go in a lift again!) contrasted with a backdrop of sexual permissiveness in the community. There are echoes of Mrs. Gaskell and 'Love on the Dole'. In all, a chilling evocation of the workers' hellish existence, and familial ties, in nineteenth cnetury France.
Brilliant, exciting story that knocks spots off Dickens July 29, 2002
16 out of 19 found this review helpful
Why would anyone read Dickens when they could read the work of Zola. Whilst Dickens wrote twee, contrived stories Zola was writing passionate, exciting sweeping novels about real life and real people in 19th century France. Germinal is considered his masterpiece and it's not difificult to see why.
The story is set in a mining town in Northern France in 1865. A stranger comes to town, starts working down a pit and ends up leading the workers in a strike. But what you get her is an insight into all of those concerned, their acceptance of their lot in life of their struggle to improve it. (don't be put off by the subject matter - it's not all "eh life is grim but we're proud" stuff). The rich mine owners are not portrayed as straightforward baddies and neither are the workers all good.
If you are looking for an exciting story, with characters you feel you know, an insight into how people used to live and a dramatic ending do yourself a favour and buy this book.
A great reality-checher September 22, 2000
5 out of 9 found this review helpful
This is a brilliant book which makes you realise that there was a huge struggle going on quite literally underneath 19th century society (aptly signified by the mines) It doesn't go in for any judgement and there are no real moralising diatribes (except the odd Darwinian reference to tainted blood-lines)- French realism at its best!
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