March 15, 2010 Booklust Review: Penhallow
March 16, 2010 Carol’s Notebook Review: Cotillion
March 16, 2010 Musings Review: These Old Shades
March 17, 2010 Reading Adventures Review: Devil’s Cub
March 18, 2010 Blog Jar Review: Royal Escape
March 19, 2010 Reading, Writing and Retirement Review: Friday’s Child
March 20, 2010 Staircase Wit Review: The Grand Sophy or Devil’s Cub
March 21, 2010 Medieval Bookworm Review: Cotillion

As for this month’s tour, Georgette Heyer continues her round of the blogosphere this week. Check out these great posts!

March 8, 2010 A Striped Armchair Review: The Unknown Ajax
March 8, 2010 A Book Lover Review: The Convenient Marriage
March 9, 2010 First Impressions: A Tale of Less Pride and Prejudice Review: The Black Sheep
March 10, 2010 Bibliosue Review: The Unfinished Clue and Royal Escape
March 11, 2010 Fleur Fisher Reads Review: No Wind of Blame
March 12, 2010 Reviews by Lola Review: Frederica
March 12, 2010 Reading, Writing, Working, Playing Review: Envious Casca
March 13, 2010 Life Is a Patchwork Quilt Review: My Lord John
March 14, 2010 Jenny’s Books Review: The Grand Sophy

Beginning Monday, April 5, 2010, Emile Zola will be going on a virtual tour of the blogosphere. Check out these participating blogs where you’ll find reviews of a number his works, as well as general information posts about this classic author.

We have two buttons for this tour. The first is taken from the painting called Paris Street: Rainy Day and painted in 1877 by Zola’s contemporary Gustave Caillebotte (see Wikipedia). The second, possibly more fitting, button is taken from an early cover of Zola’s novel Germinal (also used via Wikipedia public domain).

Tour participants should feel free to use the buttons to promote the Circuit on their blog; please download to your own computer first.

April 5, 2010        The Blog Jar Thérèse Raquin

April 5, 2010        Heidenkind’s Hideaway Nana

April 6, 2010        The Zen Leaf Germinal

April 6, 2010        Rebecca Reads The Masterpiece

April 7, 2010        Shelf Love Thérèse Raquin

April 7, 2010        Badgerish.Net Le Rêve [The Dream]

April 8, 2010        pages turned Germinal

April 8, 2010        Bibliosue Zola and the Dreyfus Affair

April 9, 2010        Bibliolatry Thérèse Raquin

April 10, 2010     Sparks’ Notes The Ladies Paradise

April 11, 2010     Reviews by Lola Nana

April 12, 2010     Pining for the West Germinal

April 12, 2010     Literary Lolita Thérèse Raquin

April 13, 2010     Books and Needlepoint Thérèse Raquin

April 14, 2010     Tales from the Reading Room Zola and Naturalism

April 14, 2010     Stiletto Storytime The Ladies’ Paradise [Au Bonheur des Dames] and Nana

April 15, 2010     Musings Thérèse Raquin

April 15, 2010     Good Books & Good Wine Germinal

April 16, 2010     BookNAround Nana

April 17, 2010     Lakeside Musing The Ladies’ Paradise

April 18, 2010     Medieval Bookworm Germinal

April 19, 2010     Wuthering Expectations Thérèse Raquin

April 19, 2010     A Striped Armchair The Ladies’ Paradise

April 20, 2010     Tell Me A Story Nana

April 20, 2010     Books and Chocolate The Belly of Paris

April 21, 2010     Caribousmom Thérèse Raquin

April 22, 2010     Paperback Reader Thérèse Raquin

April 22, 2010     The Reading Life Germinal

April 23, 2010     Evening All Afternoon Germinal (French edition)

April 24, 2010     Moored at Sea Comparison of Zola’s “L’Ouevre” and Huysman’s “A rebours”

April 25, 2010     BookLust The Fortune of the Rougons

Please note: If you are participating in this tour and the information above is incorrect or you need to make a change to your tour day, please let us know by leaving a comment or emailing classicscircuit[at]googlegroups[dot]com. Someone from the Committee will update the schedule.

If you missed sign up and you would like to be added to the schedule at this late point, let us know and we can still fit you in.

February 1, 2010   Shelf Love: The Souls of Black Folk by W.E.B. Du Bois

February 2, 2010   Evening All Afternoon: Cane by Jean Toomer

February 3, 2010   Daily Words and Acts: Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston

February 4, 2010   Paperback_Reader: Quicksand by Nella Larsen

February 4, 2010   BookNAround: The Wife of His Youth and Other Stories by Charles Chesnutt

February 6, 2010   Moored at Sea: Negritude and the Harlem Renaissance

February 6, 2010   Joyfully Retired: His Eye is On the Sparrow by Ethel Waters (autobiography) and the life of Ethel Waters

February 8, 2010   Sparks’ Notes: Plum Bun by Jessie Redmon Fauset

February 9, 2010   The Zen Leaf: Jonah’s Gourd Vine by Zora Neale Hurston

February 10, 2010  Books and Chocolate: Passing by Nella Larsen

February 11, 2010   Laura’s Reviews: Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston

February 11, 2010   Musings: The Ways of White Folks: Stories by Langston Hughes

February 12, 2010   Bibliosue: Home to Harlem by Claude McKay

February 13, 2010   Rebecca Reads: Black No More by George Schuyler

February 14, 2010   eclectic / eccentric Gay Rebel of the Harlem Renaissance by Bruce Nugent and an overview of African-American homosexuality during the Renaissance

February 15, 2010   Nonsuch Book Harlem Renaissance Poetry in Fire!! by Wallace Thurman

February 16, 2010   Notes from the North The Souls of Black Folk by W.E.B. Du Bois

February 17, 2010   Becky’s Book Reviews Mules and Men by Zora Neale Hurston

February 17, 2010   Notorious Spinks Talks Gay Rebel of the Harlem Renaissance by Bruce Nugent and the movie Brother to Brother

February 19, 2010   Reviews by Lola Passing by Nella Larsen

February 21, 2010   book-a-rama Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston

February 22, 2010   Michelle’s Masterful Musings When Washington Was in Vogue by Edward Christopher Williams

February 23, 20101  BrownGirl BookSpeak There Is Confusion by Jessie Fauset

February 24, 2010    Wuthering Expectations The Conjure Woman by Charles Chesnutt

February 25, 2010    Linus’s Blanket Stories by Zora Neale Hurston

February 26, 2010    My Friend Amy Quicksand by Nella Larson

February 26, 2010   things mean a lot Mules and Men by Zora Neale Hurston

February 28, 2010    BookLust The House Behind the Cedars by Charles Chesnutt

March 1, 2010 One Librarian’s Book Reviews Review: Frederica
March 1, 2010 Austenprose Review: Georgette Heyer’s Regency World by Jennifer Kloester
March 2, 2010 Enchanted by Josephine Review: Beauvallet
March 3, 2010 Books and Chocolate Review: Behold, Here’s Poison
March 3, 2010 Michelle’s Masterful Musings Review: Devil’s Cub
March 4, 2010 Sparks’ Notes Review: Friday’s Girl
March 5, 2010 Tales from the Reading Room Review: The Private World of Georgette Heyer by Jane Aiken Hodge
March 6, 2010 BookNAround Review: The Grand Sophy
March 7, 2010 Windy Ridge Books Review: Why Shoot a Butler?

The tour will begin on April 19, overlapping with the last weeks of the Zola tour, and will last for about three weeks, depending on the number of participants. If you have signed up for Zola and also wanted to sign up for Dumas, note that we will be sending tour day assignment emails in the next few days; you may want to wait until you know when you are assigned for that tour.

You can sign-up for the tour until March 12, and we would love to have you part of it!

When you indicate that you want to participate, please keep in mind that we will assign you a date during the tour on which you should post. If you are unable to meet your assigned date, let us know and we can reassign you: otherwise, we’ll take you off the schedule. Please let us know when you sign up your preferred and/or unavailable days during the month.

Information compiled by Rebecca of Rebecca Reads, Teresa of Shelf Love, Nicole of Linus’s Blanket, Chris of book-a-rama and Kay of Kay’s Bookshelf.

The sign-up has closed.

The Life of Alexandre Dumas

Alexandre Dumas was born Alexandre Dumas Davy de la Pailleterie, in the village of Villers-Cotterêts in France on July 24, 1802, to a former general in Napoleon’s army and an innkeeper’s daughter. Dumas started his career writing magazine articles and plays for theater. One of his plays, Antony, is considered the first non-historical Romantic drama. He’d eventually become the one of the most read French authors in the world, writing mostly swashbuckling novels, but also non-fiction (most impressive of these being the Great Dictionary of Cuisine, part encyclopedia and part cookbook) and travel memoirs. He died December 5, 1870.

Works by Alexandre Dumas

List taken from Wikipedia; this is not a comprehensive list as a lot of Dumas works have not been translated in English or are currently out of print. If you want and are able to read others works of his, feel free to as we’d welcome the diversity
Charles VII at the Homes of His Great Vassals (Charles VII chez ses grands vassaux, 1831) - drama, adapted for the opera The Saracen by Russian composer César Cui

• “An OK play with one of the best endings I’ve ever read.” (Elijah Kinch Spector on Goodreads.com)

The Fencing Master (Le Maître d’armes, 1840): A fictional account of the Decembrists revolt in Russia. It was banned by Czar Nikolay the First.

• There is much to admire in The Fencing Master. In lieu of snappy patter, Pérez-Reverte provides artful, intricate conversation. Rather than send his characters on a relentless search, he provides them with an inexorable unfolding of revelation, increasingly ghastly. And instead of the clever puzzle that lies at the heart of many a lesser crime novel, he substitutes a subtle meditation on the deeper mysteries of fate and choice. (Walter Satterthwait of The New York Times)

Georges (1843): The protagonist of this novel is a man of mixed race, a rare allusion to Dumas’ own African ancestry.

• “This novel of of particular interest for two reasons: first, because Dumas reused many of the ideas and plot devices that he deployed in Georges later in Le Comte de Monte Cristo, and secondly because race and racism are at the center of this novel, and this a topic on which Dumas, despite his part-African ancestry, rarely wrote.” (Arthur D. Rypinski)
• “Wow, what a great, exciting book! Love, betrayal, duels, revenge! Sea battles and hurricanes and slave riots! I read the whole book in one sitting.” (Francophile via Amazon.com)
• “Georges is one of greatest novels of the greatest storyteller of all time. This is a marvelous romantic adventure with a noble and virtuous hero avenging social injustice similar to The Count of Monte Cristo. It is, put quite plainly, a joy to read.” (David X)

The Nutcracker (Histoire d’un casse-noisette, 1844): a revision of Hoffmann’s story The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, later adapted by Tchaikovsky as a ballet

• This version of “Nutcracker and the Mouse King” is the original work written by E.T.A. Hoffman. The beginning comes with a brief introduction examining both the story and the ballet. Mr. Dumas, who wrote the alternate version, is also briefly described in the introduction. The differences among the stories are quickly apparent, though, also described for you in the introduction. As a much loved holiday classic, I was astounded at the differences between the original work and the ballet. Both are structured to be absolutely beautiful works that speak for themselves and each contains meanings beyond words. If you are looking for a lovely holiday book for yourself, a friend, or young one, this is the perfect gift. (C.G. on Amazon)

The Count of Monte Cristo (Le Comte de Monte-Cristo, 1845–1846)

• “It is about humanity. Humanity at its best and worst. The frailty and strength of the human mind, body, and soul. It is about life and death, love and loss, jealousy and revenge, hope and forgiveness, redemption and despair. It is about greed, anger, and hatred. It is about justice and injustice.”  (Becky of Becky’s Book Reviews)
• “This book has everything: Sailors! Napoleonic sympathizers! Corsicans! Assassins! A purloined letter! An island fortress prison! Hidden treasure! Hashish dreams! A suspicion of vampires! Family secrets! Italian masquerades! Bandits! Illicit love affairs! A long-lost son! Traitors! An oriental princess sold into slavery! Shame and dishonour! Optical telegraphs! Cross-dressing lesbians! Opera! A challenge to a duel! Gunplay! Poison! Courtroom drama! Really a lot of poison! Vengeance! Justice! And love!” (Isabella at Magnificent Octopus)
• “The book, though not abounding in rich insights into human character ala George Eliot or Anthony Trollope, is extremely well-written.” (hopeinbrazil of Worthwhile Books)

The Regent’s Daughter (Une Fille du régent, 1845): A sequel to “The Conspirators”

• “This is an awesome book! Hard to get hold of, but definitely worth it.” (Elizabeth on Goodreads.com)

The Two Dianas (Les Deux Diane, 1846): The story of Diana de Poitiers (mistress of Henry II) and her daughter, Diana de Castro.

• “This was a fabulous read packed with star-crossed lovers, mystery, treachery, intrigue and more [...]” (misfitandmom at At Home With a Good Book and the Cat)
• “It’s Dumas at his best, evil characters, noble soldiers, and people swept around by events they cannot control.” (Topolino “Lisa” via Amazon.com)
• “Dumas as an unique way to write tremendous dialogues. [...] It is curious how this book is not so well known.” (Laura at Goodreads.com)

The Black Tulip (La Tulipe noire, 1850): A historical novel set in Holland involving a competition to grow the first black tulip.

• “…if you’re looking for a wonderful little story, almost perfectly told, you’re in the right place.” (Amazon reviewer, DonAthos)
• “The Black Tulip might sound a little soppy, but the plot is very good and moves along with great momentum.” (kimbofo on Reading Matters)
• “It took me a little while to get into as the first 50 pages or so are mostly background and description, but once into the story I found that I couldn’t put it down.” (Melissa on Goodreads.com)

The Wolf-Leader (Le Meneur de loups, 1857): A fantasy novel based on folklore Dumas heard as a child. A wolfman offers a shoemaker revenge upon his enemies.

• “The conclusion is just as unexpected as much of the rest of the book…” (Arthur D Rypinski)
• “[...] the beginning of this book is one of the best I’ve ever read. Reminiscent of the Divine Comedy.  This is a pretty rare offering from Alexandre Dumas [...], being the only “supernatural” piece I’m aware of that he wrote.” (Kenny Oswald on Goodreads.com)

The Companions of Jehu (Les Compagnons de Jehu, 1857): In Robin Hood-esque fashion the Companions of Jehu rob Napoleon’s coffers in an attempt to resurrect the monarchy.

• “This is a great tale and one of Dumas’s best works. You will enjoy every word of it!” (Amazon reviewer, R Yarnell)
• “A very good lesser known work of Dumas. There are main characters on both sides of the conflict and no discernible villain, which makes for an interesting read.” (Elijah Kinch Spector on Goodreads.com)

Robin Hood (Robin Hood le proscrit, 1863): A condensed version of Robin Hood and Little John by Pierce Egan.

• “I was in love with this book as a child. Although it’s probably the version that strays the most from the ballads and other such stuff, it’s definitely the one I like the most.”  (Laurie on Goodreads.com)

The Whites and the Blues (Les Blancs et les Bleus, 1867)

• “[Dumas] says several times himself that he is not really writing a novel, and not really writing a history, he’s kind of filling in the blanks of history with historical details he picked up from people who lived at the time he is writing about.”  (Cynthia on Goodreads.com)

The Last Cavalier (Le Chevalier de Sainte-Hermine, 1869): This nearly completed novel was his last major work and was lost until its rediscovery by Claude Schopp in 1988 and subsequent release in 2005.

• “Read a sentence and you can’t help but read the next one. How could I have stayed away so long from Dumas, he who sweeps me away with political intrigue and wild exploits? Plus, he’s very funny.” (Isabella at Magnificent Octopus)
• “I loved reading about Diana the super-avenger (and kick-ass woman!), Chateaubriand exploring North America and giving a shout-out to Lake Erie, Cadoudal the honorable royalist, and on and on.” (Alex on Somewhere Quiet)
• “Not what I would consider Dumas’ crowning achievement but nonetheless an entertaining novel in the way only Alexandre Dumas could portray a part of French history.” (Jason on Goodreads.com)

The Women’s War: follows Baron des Canolles, a naive Gascon soldier who falls in love with two women.

• “As with many Dumas novels, this one was inspired by historical events and, as usual, is a wonderful blend of fact and fiction. It is packed with political intrigue and has a much-appreciated message about the futility of war. This book is a real gem.” (ichabodisitchy on Ichabod Is Itchy)
• “I didn’t realize this book existed and what a delightful adventure in reading it was! I am very impressed with the dialogue, especially. It is full of witty repartee and I actually found myself chuckling at the tongue-in-cheek humor as well as the clever sarcasm it contains.” (Dawn K. Sandquist on Amazon.com)
• “The characters are almost all uniformly interesting, the action moves along briskly and excitingly, and the plot is suitably labyrinthine, delivering genuine surprises.” (Elijah on “We Are About To Have the Honor of Charging You”)

The D’Artagnan Romances:

The Three Musketeers (Les Trois Mousquetaires, 1844)

• “Friendship. Love. Hate. Revenge. Secrets. Danger. Adventure. Adventure. Adventure. Adventure with a dash of romance. Swordfights. Duels. Honor. Jealousy. Agendas. Ambition. Greed. Lust. And more than a little humor and sarcasm.” (Becky of Becky’s Book Reviews.)
• “What makes this book a classic in my mind, however, are the dark moments. D’Artagnan is the main character, but in reality one of the least interesting. The real poignancy in the book comes from the portrayal of wise, yet haunted, Athos and the ruthlessly ambitious Milady. Whispered at in the movie but fleshed out in the book, these beautiful characters will stay with you long after you finish reading the final page.” (Meg89 of Literary Menagerie)
• “I highly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone looking for a fun read.  The characters are flawed but lovable, and the plot moves along quickly enough to prevent even the slowest reader from getting bored.” (Michelle of Michelle’s Masterful Musings)

Twenty Years After (Vingt ans après, 1845)

• “Reading about [the three Musketeers'] new set of adventures and their struggles as they face the spectres of their past and the threat of the future was highly, highly enjoyable.” — Alex of Somewhere Quiet
• “Dumas is brilliant (as always) and his dialogue is among the best (as always). An awesome sequel to the Three Musketeers [...]” (Misfit on Librarything.com)
• “More intrigue fights, humour, plot twists and daring escapes and delightful characters as Paris becomes a battleground between two opposing political factions.” (Rebecca on Goodreads.com)

The Vicomte de Bragelonne, sometimes called Ten Years Later, (Le Vicomte de Bragelonne, ou Dix ans plus tard, 1847): When published in English, it was usually split into three parts: The Vicomte de Bragelonne, Louise de la Valliere, and The Man in the Iron Mask, of which the last part is the best known. (A third sequel, The Son of Porthos, 1883 (a.k.a. The Death of Aramis) was published under the name of Alexandre Dumas; however, the real author was Paul Mahalin.)

• “This is the third and final book in The Three Musketeers trilogy, and in my opinion the best. ” (Karina on Goodreads.com)
• “Every bit as good as the previous two installments of the Musketeers cycle it could not fail to enthrall all who have enjoyed The Three Musketeers and Twenty Years After.<” (pageboy on LibraryThing.com)
• “A masterful and most worthy sequel. The Musketeers saga reaches its exciting conclusion in The Vicomte De Bragelonne. The longest, but the most entertaining adventure of them all.” (HAMLET on Amazon.com)

The Valois romances

La Reine Margot (1845)

• “[...] the action is intense, and there is plenty of suspense in the plot to keep turning pages and reading long past a reasonable bed time.” (Page Turner of Lines From the Page)
• “In this inventive and compelling novel, Dumas brings an extraordinary period of history vividly to life with much excitement and romance.  The lively prose and wonderfully constructed plot tell of court intrigues and forbidden love, of beautiful queens, duchesses, and noblemen, suspense, conspiracies, betrayals, assassinations, susperstitions, poisonings, and sumptuous feasts.” (Arleigh of historical-fiction.com)
• “Filled with the intrigue surrounding the St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre of 1572 Dumas has Catherine de Medici, the Duke d’Anjou, Charles IX of France and (of course) Marguerite de Valois in full technicolor to keep me reading. Good, good stuff.” (Michelle of Scribbit)

La Dame de Monsoreau (1846) (a.k.a. Chicot the Jester)

• “In some ways this is my favorite Dumas and thus I think that it ranks with the Count of Monte Cristo and the Three Musketeers. The action takes place during Henry III’s reign and follows two intertwined plot lines: 1)the adventures of Chicot, the king’s “jester,” and 2) the love intriques of Bussy d’Amboise and the tragic Dame de Monsoreau. The political rivalries of the various aristocratic court factions is entertaining and interesting and, it is my impression, fairly accurate history.” (A Customer at Amazon)
• “The characters in this book were really fun. I laughed quite a bit, and cried even more.” (Deusprimus on Goodreads.com)
• “Great book if you are a Dumas fan, and especially if you’ve read La Reine Margot.” (qh on Amazon.com)

The Forty-Five Guardsmen(Les Quarante-cinq, 1847)

• “[...]the Forty-Five does not lack young, handsome and rich gentlemen and beautiful and graceful ladies, not to mention the private lifestyle (humorous I found) of the King Henri III and his brother the duc d’Alençon. It was overall just captivating, I felt like I was reliving this time period.” (TK “ligue” at Amazon.com)

The Marie Antoinette romances:

Joseph Balsamo (Mémoires d’un médecin: Joseph Balsamo, 1846–1848) (a.k.a. Memoirs of a Physician, Cagliostro, Madame Dubarry, The Countess Dubarry, or The Elixir of Life): Court intrigues in the time of Marie Antoinette.

• “Balsamo is one of his most interesting characters, a mystic and freemason who is sort of evil and horrible but sort of wonderful and noble — a classic complex and multilayered Dumas hero.” (Cynthia on Goodreads.com)
• “This is a must for Dumas fans. [...] Love, war, fantasy and politics are delicately woven into the fabric of the story. Highly recommended.” (Bob Doust on Amazon.com)
• “Suffice it to say that Dumas’ tale of the lives and loves of the Court of Louis XV and the growing tension amongst the lower classes of Paris and beyond was quite entertaining, especially with the mysterious appearances and disappearances of Balsamo in and out of the story.” (Misfit on Amazon.com)

The Queen’s Necklace (Le Collier de la Reine, 1849–1850): The tragedy surrounding Marie Antoinette’s necklace.

• “Complex, intricate and ornate, a novel that makes you sympathetic toward royalty even as you’re applauding the commoners for their brave step toward alliance. A narrative tour-de-force with a real polyphonic style and a sweeping gaze over France of the 18th century.” (ruzmari on goodreads.com)

Ange Pitou (1853) (a.k.a. Storming the Bastille or Six Years Later): Story of the fall of Louis XVI and his royal family.

• “Voltaire’s Candide meets Wilkie Collins in Dickens’ ‘A Tale of Two Cities’ – bizarre!” (AdonisGuilfoyle on LibraryThing.com)
• “Some readers may find a slow spot here and there at the beginning and end of the book, but other than that I found it quite unputdownable.” (Misfit on LibraryThing.com)

The Countess de Charny (La Comtesse de Charny, 1853–1855) (a.k.a. Andrée de Taverney, or The Mesmerist’s Victim): A story set in the period during the execution of Louis the XVI.

• “Much of the book details known history as Louis attempts to take his family out of the country to safety, their ultimate capture and return to Paris, as Dumas weaves his fictional characters and their lives amongst those of Louis, his court and the battling factions of the National Assembly.” (Misfit on Amazon.com)

Le Chevalier de Maison-Rouge (1845) (a.k.a. The Knight of the Red House, or The Knight of Maison-Rouge): Story of an attempt to rescue Marie Antoinette from prison.

• “A brilliantly written tale of romance and intrigue about Marie Antoinette and her supporter, the Knight of Maison-Rouge, during the French Revolution.” (rscotts on LibraryThing.com)
• ”
  Allison Anderson on Goodreads.com)
• “Having read most of what Dumas has written, I can only say that this is one of his best novels. It is adventurous, fast paced and written in a superb manner.” (Juan C Villamil on Amazon.com)

Other Books

We were unable to find English translations and/or summaries and reviews for the following books. You are more than welcome to read them if you can find them!

Drama

Henri III et Sa Cour (1829)
Antony (1831)
La Tour de Nesle – 1832
Kean – 1836

Non-fiction

Grand Dictionnaire de cuisine (Great Dictionary of Cuisine) was published posthumously in 1873. An abridged version (the Petit Dictionnaire de cuisine, or Small Dictionary of Cuisine) was published in 1882.
He was also a well-known travel writer, writing such books as:

• Impressions de voyage: En Suisse (Travel Impressions: In Switzerland, 1834)
• Une Année à Florence (A Year in Florence, 1841)
• De Paris à Cadix (From Paris to Cadiz, 1847)
• Le Caucase (The Caucasus, 1859)
• Impressions de voyage: En Russie (Travel Impressions: In Russia, 1860).

The sign-up has closed.

February 22, 2010   Michelle’s Masterful Musings When Washington Was in Vogue by Edward Christopher Williams

February 23, 20101  BrownGirl BookSpeak There Is Confusion by Jessie Fauset

February 24, 2010    Wuthering Expectations The Conjure Woman by Charles Chesnutt

February 25, 2010    Linus’s Blanket Stories by Zora Neale Hurston

February 26, 2010    My Friend Amy Quicksand by Nella Larson

February 26, 2010   things mean a lot Mules and Men by Zora Neale Hurston

February 27, 2010    Bookgazing Gentleman Jigger by Bruce Nugent

February 28, 2010    BookLust The House Behind the Cedars by Charles Chesnutt

Today begins sign up for the Emile Zola tour, which will begin April 5 and run until April 23 or April 30, depending on the number of interested tour participants. Once sign up closes for this tour, we will open sign up for the Alexandre Dumas tour. The tours will be overlapping by a week or so (again, depending on the number of tour participants).

When you indicate that you want to participate, please keep in mind that we will assign you a date during the tour on which you should post. If you are unable to meet your assigned date, let us know and we can reassign you: otherwise, we’ll take you off the schedule. Please let us know when you sign up your preferred and/or unavailable days during the month.

Zola Circuit sign up will be open until the evening of Sunday, February 28. Sign up is now closed. If you would still like to join the tour, send an email to the tour leader at classicscircuit@googlegroups.com as soon as possible.

Information compiled by Rebecca of Rebecca Reads, Teresa of Shelf Love, Nicole of Linus’s Blanket, and Chris of book-a-rama.

The Life of Emile Zola

Emile Zola lived from 1840 until 1902. Although he started his writing career by writing in a romantic style, later he adopted the principles of naturalism, which claims that social conditions, heredity and environment somewhat dictate what type of life one will have, and his depition of bohemian lifestyle caused a rift between Zola and his friends, like painter Paul Cezanne.  Although he wrote short stories and some plays, many of his novels capture the epic history of one fictionalized family through generations; the novels in the Les Rougon-Macquart cycle are connected, but all of them can be read as stand-alone novels.

Works by Emile Zola

The following list was taken from Wikipedia.

Thérèse Raquin (1867): Generally considered Zola’s first major work. The tragic story of a young unhappily married woman and her ill-fated affair. Considered an example of Naturalism because of its detached, scientific approach. (Wikipedia)

• “Therese Raquin is a book I can heartily recommend to just about anyone. It would also be a good choice for a book club looking for an accessible, exciting, and short classic” Jo Anne at Lakeside Musing).
• “I think there is something utterly readable and uncomplicated about Zola’s writing, anyone could read it and need not feel daunted by the idea that it’s a classic and might therefore be inaccessible, tricky or obscure” (DGR at dovegreyreaderscribbles).
• “It is a wonderfully imaginative, atmospheric piece of writing, macabre, tragic, gruelling, and one which will stay with me for a long time” (Harriet at Harriet Devine’s Blog).
• “Zola’s story has a gripping grittiness for the first half, and his depiction of frank sexuality was sufficiently ahead of its time to be the source of scandal on publication” (John Self at Asylum).
• “To say Thérèse Raquin is a dark story is probably an understatement, but it’s a story that’s well worth the time and effort.” (Danielle at A Work in Progress)

Les Quatre Evangiles:Fécondité (1899); Travail (1901); Justice (unfinished);Vérité [Truth] (1903, published posthumously). Based on his experiences with the infamous Dreyfus case, this powerful last novel by Emile Zola about the scape-goating of a Jewish schoolteacher is a chilling depiction of anti-Semitism fully embedded in European society and an eerie presentiment of the Holocaust that would sweep across the Continent only forty years later. (Amazon)

• “Truth is Emile Zola’s last novel and was published after his death. It is his longest book and deals with the transformative power of Truth, Justice, and Love. It also deals with how social change happens slowly through generational change rather than by changing the minds of individuals.”  (F. Orion Pozo at Amazon)

Les Rougon-Macquart

A 20-novel series following the life of a French family during the Second French Empire (1852-1870). (Note: These are in publication order, not the order Zola intended them to be read.)

La Fortune des Rougon [The Fortunes of the Rougons] (1871). A series of intertwining stories of a family during the coup d’etat that began the Second Empire. (via Karl Jansson at Amazon)

• “The Fortune Of The Rougons has everything you expect from good French literature: intrigue, skull duggery, a complex maze of intertwining characters and all this against a vivid historical background.” nakedplanet@iac at Amazon
• “I enjoyed reading it. For people who enjoy literature, this is a thinking man’s tawdry soap opera.” The Pete at Amazon
• “The book is very entertaining, clearly and simply written and a real page-turner.” Kenneth Windrum at Amazon

La Curée [The Kill] (1871–72). A story of Paris, focusing on the lust for money and the lust for pleasure. (See Amazon)

• “This book is full of excess and scheming. Lovers are passed around like currency, and debauchery becomes commonplace. Zola’s portrait of Paris during the Second Empire is defined by indulgence.” Matthew W. Kingore at Amazon
• “it is simultaneously a masterpiece of naturalism and a perfectly-balanced metaphor. ” W. Shriver at Amazon
• “It is a retelling of the Phaedra myth with timeless human character archetypes and relationships, but with specific historical details of Paris in the 1850’s. Zola uses the perverse sexual and monetary excesses of the novels characters to criticize the Second Empire’s decadent morality.” Stbalbach at LibraryThing

Le Ventre de Paris [The Belly of Paris, The Fat and the Thin] (1873). An escaped political prisoner finds refuge with working-class families near the central market at Les Halles. (via Wikipedia)

• “I live in Paris, so it was interesting for me to read this novel. I can tell you that nothing has changed since Zola wrote this book, except the market has moved to Rungis.” Dr. Elizabeth Burke “thinking” at Amazon
• “The setting of Les Halles makes an unforgetable backdrop to this story and informs the reader in great detail of the workings of the market halls. From the start the reader is left to wonder at the fate of Florent and this is not realised until the end in a drama of twists and turns.” judyb65 at LibraryThing
• “Zola writes incredible, wonderful, sometimes overpoweringly detailed and evocative portraits of the market goods, from silvery fish to pungent cheeses to flowers to fruit to meat to…there is a lot. In contrast with the main character Florent’s physical/emotional leanness and constant hunger, in the marketplace bounty, fecundity, and aggressive overabundance carry the day. The air is full of battling smells, raucous voices, flying rumors, and sexual tension. It’s easy to emerge from one of Zola’s descriptive bouts with a faint nausea and the inclination to lie down for a while with some ginger tea and a cold compress.” Amy at Goodreads

La Faute de l’Abbé Mouret [The Sins of Father Moret] (1875). An anticlerical novel about an isolated and disinterested community.

• “One of my favourite all time books about passion and the damage caused by religion. The descriptions of nature are breathtakingly beautiful. ” kathythereader at LibraryThing
• “A vast painting, from Zola’s caustic point of view, of France in the latter half of the 19th century, and fascinating for that. Descriptions are vivid and detailed. Recommended.” Peter J. Torvick Jr at Amazon

L’Assommoir [The Gin Shop, The Drunkard] (1877): “Usually considered one of Zola’s masterpieces, the novel—a harsh and uncompromising study of alcoholism and poverty in the working-class districts of Paris—was a huge commercial success and established Zola’s fame and reputation throughout France and the world.” (Wikipedia)

• “The characters’ lives are so full of difficulties and pain (following, of course, a long period of good times) that it’s impossible not to find yourself immersed in the story. … “L’Assommoir” is a brilliant and important novel, a wonderful starting point for Zola, and an equally great jumping off point for further Zola books. ” Biblibio at Amazon
• “Maybe it’s just me who likes Zola so much, but this has been so far an all time favorite. Zola’s realism is frightening. It’s one of those books that describe reality so well, in such an ugly way that you find yourself unable to put the book down. Sometimes Zola exaggerates, maybe, but most of the time, it’s so painfully true. ” Rebecca at Goodreads
• “Brilliant – the characters are so frustrating in their self destruction. Compelling reading” judyb65 at LibraryThing

Nana (1880): Tells of “Nana Coupeau’s rise from streetwalker to high-class cocotte” and how she ” destroys every man who pursues her.” Nana previously appeared in L’Assommoir.

• “Reading this was rather like eating an extraordinarily delicious meal — you feel you really should slow down and savour every mouthful, but instead you race through, stuffing yourself with all the irresistible goodies” (Harriet at Harriet Devine’s Blog)
• “the novel is excellent, a masterpiece of French literature, a critique on the ridiculous level of poverty at the time.” Rachell Garrett at Amazon
• “Zola is perhaps the best pure writer I’ve ever read. By this I mean the beauty and flow of his writing independent of all other considerations is unmatched.” Douglas Schmidtt at Amazon

Pot-Bouille [Pot Luck] (1882). A satire showing the “melting pot of moral and sexual degeneracy” in 19th century Paris. (see Amazon)

• “Although many stories about bourgeoisie lives have been written, I’ve never come across characters as vivid, comical, harsh, evolving and disgusting as those portrayed in this book. Gossips, money, sex, adulteries, self advancement and selfishness are so well mashed in the pot, they’ll warm up to readers’ hearts. I can really feel for the characters cause they seem very much alive, it almost seem that I’m living next door to them.” jazzy baby at Amazon
• “A good jolly soap opera of a book. ” A Customer at Amazon
• “a thoughtful, engaging tale by one of the world’s greatest novelists.” Utah Blaine at Amazon

Au Bonheur des Dames [The Ladies' Paradise] (1883): Set in a department store, the book describes the working lives of the store employees and the retail innovations brought about by the dawn of the department store era. (Wikipedia)

• “Here’s the nineteenth century version of ‘does my bum look big in this’ meets ’shop ’til you drop’ and it’s an absolute joy of a read (DGR at dovegreyreaderscribbles).
• “Zola’s novel is before its time. It accurately describes a social issue of today, the bigger commercial store taking over the small, personalized store.” A Customer at Amazon
• “This story works on so many levels, as so many of Zola’s books do-it’s highly entertaining, I mean as entertaining as fun as any contemporary fiction-and it’s also historically engaging, morally sound, educational and even has current relevance. Everyone should read him!” Justice at Amazon
• “Denise, who indeed suffers what Zola called “poverty in a black silk dress,” is plucky, and she ultimately breaks the glass ceiling in her own gentle way. She encounters sexual harassment and somehow triumphs. She is a modern woman, perhaps European literature’s first truly modern heroine ever. …This book is one of the best ever written, bar none, and it is light years ahead of its time.” Anne Babson poetrygirl at Amazon

La Joie de vivre [The Joy of Life] (1884).

• “This is not my favorite (best so far is Germinal followed by L’Assoimor and the Beast Within) but it is always an experience reading his novels. This is without a doubt the saddest book I have ever read but Zola never disappoints. I always feel somehow changed after a Zola read. His books are so personal that I feel moved for days after completing one. There is something for everyone in his buffet of works; if you don’t like one, just move on and you’ll find one to your liking. ” paioniabees “beeswrangler” at Amazon

Germinal (1885): “Often considered Zola’s masterpiece and one of the most significant novels in the French tradition, the novel – an uncompromisingly harsh and realistic story of a coalminers’ strike in northern France in the 1860s – has been published and translated in over one hundred countries as well as inspiring five film adaptations and two TV productions.” (Wikipedia)

• “I would strongly recommend Germinal as one of the major novels of the 19th century but one that transcends time and place. The issues evoked in the novel regarding labor versus capital are just as relevant to today’s world.” Dana Keish at Amazon
• “it is indeed a truly epic story skilfully blended with penetrating political and economic analysis, not least of the mixture of motives that push people to stand up for their rights or those of others. …. Deeply moving, shocking, but ultimately uplifting, for in the wreckage of the miners’ crushing defeat after their strike Zola, for once, offers a glimmer of hope.” A Customer at Amazon
• “Above all, however, Zola’s best work is simply an incredibly riveting, exciting, deeply moving and tremendously powerful work of fiction. Read the rise and fall of Lantier, Maheu, Bonnemort, Deneulin, Catherine, Souvarin and the other comrades, and weep.” M.A. Krul at Amazon

L’Œuvre [The Masterpiece] (1886): “A highly fictionalized account of Zola’s friendship with the painter Paul Cézanne.” (Wikipedia)

• “There are times when this book can be very frustrating, when you want to reach through the pages and shake some sense into the characters. But eventually, that’s what made me love this as much as I did–despite their flaws, the characters in The Masterpiece are unforgettable” (Daily Words and Acts).
• “It is a book of passion and the attempt of an artist to break through the boundaries set upon him and to come to grips with his own limitations. I could hardly put the book down at all once I’d begun reading it as Zola’s prose is a joy to behold and a work of art in itself.” A Customer from Amazon
• “The specific plot relates to Art but it brings a massage that is true for every human creation that might become to one’s absession. Reading this book takes the reader on an amazing journey that begins as fine arts and crosses the lines to a tragedy. A full CATARSIS. recommanded ” A Customer at Amazon

La Terre [The Earth] (1887). “A fascinating portrayal of a struggling but decadent community, it offers a compelling exploration of the destructive nature of human ignorance and greed.” (via Amazon)

• “This book is a masterpiece. Had Zola not written the awe-inspiring Germinal, this would clearly be his greatest work. Zola does his best writing when he focuses not on Parisian society but rather on the lower classes: the laborers, the peasants, the working stiffs….The book achieves a tremendous range of mood. It’s like an emotional roller coaster.” Karl Janssen on Amazon
• “Jealousy, murder, rape, farting, love, blasphemy, birth, longing, violence, cursing, sex it’s all here…even a belligerent puking donkey! Yes, Zola’s storytelling can sometimes be shocking bordering on vulgar, but so is life. A masterpiece.” Darsh at Amazon
• “For all their bickering, hypocrisy, godlessness, treachery, and murder, the Beauce farmers are still a community. They live at their own rhythm — the rhythm of The Earth — and can’t care less about morals. The only relevant laws are the unwritten ones pertaining to community, family, and Mother Earth, no matter how destructive. On the whole, a wonderful book, one of my favorites of the Rougon-Macquart series.” UncleCliffy at Amazon

Le Rêve [The Dream] (1888). A fairy story loosely connected with the Rougon-Macquart cycle (see A Customer at Amazon).

• “Yes, The Dream does diverge a bit from the others in Les Rougon-Macquart series, but because of that, I really liked it. Less grit, more sweetness. I found it quite engaging.” An Avid Reader at Amazon
• “Written as a “passport to the Academy,” this novel stands alone among the Rougon-Macquart series for its pure, idyllic grace.” akompano at Amazon
• “The novel is well written, but is too imbued with religious theme and too one-dimensional to be ranked as high as other Zola’s novels.” myshiak at Amazon

La Bête humaine [The Beast Within, The Beast in Man] (1890): A psychological thriller involving a madman and murder centered on the railway between Paris and Le Havre.

• “La Bete Humaine, a lurid tale of sex and murder, was for all its sensational content remarkably dull” (Colleen at Bookphilia.com).
• “”The Beast Within” is still a fascinating read and a deeply unsettling look at the human condition” Z.E. Lowell at Amazon
• “Zola has created some very strong and unforgetable scenes that recreate the era in which the railway network was expanding in France. ‘La Bete Humaine’ is very dark and shocking and the plot provides a compelling read.” judyb65 at LibraryThing

L’Argent [Money] (1891). White-collar crime in 19th century France. (see Amazon)

• “[It] tells you in Zola’s inimitable style about how the stock market works and the psychology of market players. Nothing has really changed since it was written over a hundred years ago.” A Customer at Amazon
• “Regardless of the historical social commentary, one can enjoy this novel purely for its intricately-drawn characters and its insights into human nature.” Karl Janssen at Amazon
• “All in all, it is a classic novel, not only about the money, but about the humanity, as well. ” myshiak at Amazon

La Débâcle (1892). “[An] account of the Franco-Prussian War and its aftermath as experienced by ordinary people, both soldiers and civilians.” A Customer at Amazon

• “This was an amazing story about the Franco-Prussian war, but it could have been about any war and the destructive influence it has on men and women, and on all human relationships. Zola tells the story, in vivid, sometimes gruesome but always very compassionate and heartbreaking detail (most of the plot is based on real historical events), of the absolute disaster that was the Franco-Prussian “debacle” of 1870-1. … An absolute masterpiece! ” Justice at Amazon
• “this is an outstanding novel, whether one likes war novels or not. Zola is one of the greatest novelists ever to put pen to paper, and this is arguable one of his best works. The characters in this story are detailed and realistic, the dialogue outstanding, and the plot complex and compelling, but easy to read. Anyone who is afraid of approaching Zola because of past experience with the 19th century English `greats’ should not be concerned. Zola has none of the pretentiousness or Victorian puritanism of his English contemporaries, and his writing, while often gloomy, is not ponderous. ” Utah Blaine at Amazon
• “This is the most descriptive book on what war really all about that I’ve read, fiction or non-fiction.”  James Hamblen at Amazon

Other Books

We were unable to find English translations and/or summaries and reviews for the following books. You are more than welcome to read them if you can find them!

Contes à Ninon (1864).
La Confession de Claude (1865)
Les Mystères de Marseille (1867)
Madeleine Férat (1868)
La Conquête de Plassans (1874)
Son Excellence Eugène Rougon (1876)
Une Page d’amour (1878)
Le Roman Experimental (1880)
Le Docteur Pascal (1893)

Les Trois Villes: Lourdes [London] (1894); Rome (1896); Paris (1898)

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February 15, 2010   Nonsuch Book Harlem Renaissance poetry from Fire!

February 16, 2010   Notes from the North The Souls of Black Folk by W.E.B. Du Bois

February 17, 2010   Becky’s Book Reviews Mules and Men by Zora Neale Hurston

February 17, 2010   Notorious Spinks Talks Gay Rebel of the Harlem Renaissance by Bruce Nugent and the movie Brother to Brother

February 18, 2010   The Things We Read Passing by Nella Larsen

February 19, 2010   Reviews by Lola Passing by Nella Larsen

February 20, 2010  Gimme More Books! The Conjure-Man Dies by Rudolph Fisher

February 21, 2010   book-a-rama Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston

• Alexandre Dumas (1802-1870) is one of the most widely read French novelists today. His historical novels of high adventure were often serialized, capturing the attention of the French public then and entertaining generations still.
• Victor Hugo (1802-1885) contributed largely to the romantic movement in France, through his essays, stories, novels, poetry, and plays. His works focus on the social and political issues of his time. Although most well known in France for his poetry, his novels (such as Les Miserables) are more well known outside of the country.
• George Sand (1804-1876) was the pen name for Amantine Aurore Lucile Dupin, who is called the first female novelist of France. Although she lived an unorthodox life for nineteenth century France, Sand did not describe herself as a feminist. Her fiction focuses on the restrictions and challenges that women face because of social class and gender.
• Emile Zola (1840-1902) became an important contributor to the literary school of naturalism. He wrote numerous short stories, four plays, and more than a dozen books. His books focus on how environment and heredity inevitably affect human character.

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