Short Stories/Novellas

A wonderful collection of three surreal stories from French master Émile Zola given a fresh new translation Sixty-two-year-old Louis Roubieu sees his family's long-awaited prosperity as a reward rained upon him by God for years of arduous toil on the land. Yet it is the very abundance of God's rain, initially observed from the window of their imposing farmhouse, which comes to pose a dire threat to not merely their livelihood but their very lives. Along with the complementary stories presented here, the celebrated "Blood" and "Three Wars," this is a departure from the dark realism for which Zola is more commonly known.

The Death of Olivier Becaille is a short story written by Emile Zola. The story follows the life of Olivier Becaille, a man who is mistakenly declared dead and buried alive. After waking up in his coffin, Olivier struggles to come to terms with his situation and desperately tries to escape his grave. Along the way, he encounters various characters who all believe him to be a ghost, including his own wife. The story is a dark and haunting exploration of the fear of death and the fragility of life. Zola's writing is vivid and atmospheric, painting a vivid picture of Olivier's desperate struggle for survival. The Death of Olivier Becaille is a gripping and thought-provoking read that will stay with readers long after they have finished it.It was on a Saturday, at six in the morning, that I died after a three days' illness...This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.