"Rome" is a novel by French author Émile Zola. The book tells the story of the young French artist Pierre Froment, who travels to Rome in the hopes of finding inspiration for his work. As Pierre immerses himself in the vibrant and chaotic world of Rome, he becomes increasingly fascinated by the city's art and culture. He falls in love with the beautiful Italian woman Elena, and becomes embroiled in various intrigues and affairs. Throughout the book, Zola provides a vivid and detailed portrait of Rome, from its bustling streets and crowded piazzas to its rich artistic and intellectual scene. He also explores themes of love, passion, and artistic inspiration, as Pierre struggles to reconcile his desire for Elena with his commitment to his art. At the same time, Zola also offers a searing critique of the corrupt and decadent society of fin-de-siècle Europe, depicting Rome as a city on the brink of moral and political collapse. Overall, "Rome" is a powerful and evocative novel that offers a fascinating glimpse into the artistic and cultural world of late nineteenth-century Europe, while also exploring timeless themes of love, passion, and the search for meaning and inspiration.
French author, journalist, dramatist, and founder of the naturalism literary movement, Zola also wrote plays. He played a significant role in both Alfred Dreyfus' exoneration and the political liberalisation of France. Dreyfus had been wrongfully charged and imprisoned as an army commander. In 1901 and 1902, Zola was a candidate for the Nobel Prize in Literature. Zola was born in Paris on April 2, 1840, to François Zola and Emilie Aubert. Before becoming a writer, he was a law student who twice failed the baccalaureate. In his formative years, Zola produced a large number of short stories, essays, plays, and novels. Hachette fired Zola from his position as director of the Paris Opera in 1864 after the release of his scandalous autobiographical book La Confession de Claude (1865), which attracted the attention of the authorities. Zola became a citizen of France in 1862. He met the seamstress Éléonore-Alexandrine Meley, also known as Gabrielle, in 1865, and she eventually became his mistress. On September 29, 1902, Francois Zola died from carbon monoxide poisoning brought on by a poorly ventilated chimney. At the time of his death, he was working on the sequel to his recently published book Vérité, which is about the Dreyfus trial.
