by Émile Zola
Part of Les Rougon-Macquart, book 20
First published 2004
In Plassans two years after the Second Empire's collapse, Dr Pascal Rougon dedicates himself to medical research on heredity rather than treating patients. He lives with his beloved niece Clotilde, whom he raised from childhood. Pascal has meticulously compiled the complete genealogical tree of the Rougon-Macquart family, documenting their history in detailed papers. His elderly mother wants these documents destroyed to erase all evidence of the family's shameful origins. Clotilde initially joins this conspiracy against Pascal's life work. The doctor must defend his scientific studies while navigating the complex emotions surrounding his family's legacy. This final volume of the Rougon-Macquart cycle weaves together themes of scientific progress and personal relationships, as Pascal believes medicine can achieve complete knowledge to cure all ailments. The story explores the tension between preserving truth and protecting reputation, ultimately celebrating life and future possibilities over death and concealment.
Genres: 20th-century, 19th-century, family-drama, academic
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: family-drama, preserving-truth
Setting: Plassans
Period: Second Empire
572 pages · Mass Market Paperback · Le Livre de Poche