Trap

Emile Zola (1840 - 1902) is an outstanding French writer, journalist, critic, known as the founder and main theoretician of naturalistic prose, who sought to scientifically substantiate his literary method, looking for a connection between the natural and social roots of human psychology.

Adhering steadfastly to his creed "Nulla dies sine linea" ("Not a day without a line"), Zola managed to become one of the most popular writers of the last quarter of the 19th century. world level, to start a separate literary direction, to realize his greatest creative idea - to write a cycle of twenty novels "Rugon-Makara" (1870 - 1893), "the natural and social history of one family during the Second Empire". Most of his works have been translated into dozens of languages and filmed. Zola also became famous for his involvement in the Dreyfus case, publishing the article "I blame" in the newspaper "L'Aurore" in early 1898, after which he had to flee to England due to the threat of imprisonment.

"The Trap" is one of the most important works of Emile Zola, in which the writer fully implements his creative method. "The Trap", the "most naturalistic" novel in the author's entire oeuvre, was severely criticized for its frank physiology and style, and at the same time brought the writer world fame and recognition.

The action of the work takes place in the Paris suburbs of the middle of the 19th century. Using the example of one family, Zola depicts the life and problems of the lower strata of the population of France at that time, shows the influence of the environment on a person, talks about the role of women in society, and ridicules human ignorance. The frankness, uncompromisingness, and even cruelty of the novel make it a brilliant literary artifact, the relevance of which does not fade even today.

Translation from French

Vyacheslav Kashuk