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markludmon's review against another edition
4.0
The “origins” story for all of Zola’s 20 Rougon-Macquart novels. It traces the development of the Rougon and Macquart family in a southern French town, Plassans, focusing on ambitious but incompetent businessman Pierre Rougon and his resourceful wife Félicitée and his dissolute half-brother Antoine Macquart as well as their young nephew Silvère and his girlfriend Miette. Mostly set in December 1851, it tells how different members of the family are drawn into politics and conflict locally as France is thrown into chaos by Napoléon III’s anti-Republican coup d’état. Zola creates a bleak picture of a society where traditional morality is meaningless and money, cunning and self-interest rule the day.
chairmanbernanke's review against another edition
4.0
Zola has a clear talent for description and presentation. Varied characters interact in society.
castral's review against another edition
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
jade_flynn's review against another edition
4.0
Definitely going to continue on with the other nineteen novels in the Rougon-Macquart cycle. Translation was perfect. Spans the period from around the time of Napoleonic wars to the origins of the Second Empire in France, it did help with my understanding of the novel a bit more, knowing a fair share on the topic, but it is by no means necessary. Zola, you've impressed me.
astrono9's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
alcaline's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
carologirl's review against another edition
dark
funny
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
graylodge_library's review against another edition
3.0
"They kissed each other again and fell asleep. The patch of light on the ceiling now seemed to be assuming the shape of a terrified eye, staring unblinkingly at the pale, slumbering couple, who now reeked of crime under their sheets, and were dreaming that they could see blood raining down in big drops and turning into gold coins as they landed on the floor."
What a difference a good translation makes! That and a few years of reading books in English in between, because re-reading Brian Nelson's new translation of The Fortune of the Rougons was so much easier. The ending was so unfamiliar that I'm not even sure I ever finished the old one. Now I'm so much more excited to read the series!
This is the beginning of everything. The 1851 coup d'état is looming in the background as a young idealistic couple - Silvère and Miette - is contrasted with the poisonous Rougon and Macquart branches of Silvère's family.
The family's roots are established with mentally unstable Adelaide Fouque, whose legitimate son Pierre Rougon is determined to disinherit his illegitimate half-siblings (their father a drunkard and a poacher) and turns against his own mother. He also schemes together with his ambitious wife Felicité to gain fortune and fame in the town of Plassans. Finally, everything ends in a pool of blood.
The Rougon-Macquart series consists of 20 novels. It's not a traditional family saga, because all the novels are standalones despite the recurring characters, so I don't think it's fair to judge the books in relation to each other too much. Fortune has a bit of an introductory air to it and I know there will be even more interesting stories ahead, but by itself it's a fine novel. Just don't read this as your first Zola.
paulgreer's review against another edition
5.0
Worth having an idea of the background and circumstance of the coup d’etat of the Second French Empire (Wikipedia will do), as knowledge seems to be assumed.
aurqra's review against another edition
2.0
Stopped reading at 50%, despite the fact that the story is interesting I realy don't enjoy the overdescriptive writing. I already struggled with Thérèse Raquin but here it's even worse, I even struggled to keep track of all the characters.