Definition

Proper noun: - French novelist and critic; defender of Dreyfus (1840-1902): Emile Zola was a major French writer, a key figure in the literary school of naturalism, and a prominent public intellectual who famously defended Alfred Dreyfus.

Usage Examples

• Proper noun:
  • We studied the works of Emile Zola in our 19th-century literature class.
  • The famous "J'accuse...!" letter was written by Emile Zola in defense of Captain Dreyfus.

Advanced Usage

• "Zolaesque" (adj): Resembling or characteristic of the works of Emile Zola, particularly in their detailed, realistic, and often harsh depiction of society.
  • The novel's gritty portrayal of urban poverty was truly Zolaesque.

Variants and Related Words

• Naturalism (n): A literary movement pioneered by Emile Zola, emphasizing scientific observation and the influence of heredity and environment on human character.
• Les Rougon-Macquart (n): The collective title of Zola's twenty-novel cycle depicting French society under the Second Empire.

Synonyms

• Novelist
• Writer
• Author
• Naturalist (in the literary sense)

Related Phrases

• "J'accuse": The title of Zola's famous 1898 open letter, meaning "I accuse"; it has become a phrase used to denote a bold public accusation, especially of injustice.
  • His article was a modern "J'accuse" against corporate corruption.

Noun

1. French novelist and critic; defender of Dreyfus (1840-1902)