Émile Zola

Émile Zola (1840–1902) was a French novelist and journalist and a leading figure of literary Naturalism. He is best known for the 20-novel cycle *Les Rougon-Macquart*, which traces a family across the Second French Empire and includes works such as *L’Assommoir*, *Nana*, and *Germinal*. Zola also wrote influential art and political criticism. In 1898 he intervened in the Dreyfus Affair with his open letter “J’accuse…!”, accusing the French state of antisemitism and miscarriage of justice; he was convicted of libel and fled to England before returning. He died in Paris in 1902.