The Three Cities Trilogy Lourdes Rome Paris

This carefully crafted ebook: “The Complete Three Cities Trilogy: Lourdes + Rome + Paris” is formatted for your eReader with a functional and detailed table of contents. In this trilogy, translated by Ernest Alfred Vizetelly (1853-1922), Zola delves into the history and politics of the Catholic church. The protagonist of all three novels is Abbé Pierre Froment. In Lourdes Pierre seemed in danger of losing his faith, but Rome opens with the young priest experiencing a newfound fervor toward his calling. Lourdes Lourdes, originally published in 1894, is the first volume in Emile Zola's Three Cities Trilogy. Zola examines the phenomena of the Lourdes shrine in southern France, and the pilgrims who go there. Based on his own trip to the fabled grotto, the novel follows a simple five-part structure corresponding to the five-day train trip from Paris to Lourdes and back. Rome Originally published in 1896, Rome is the second volume in the Three Cities Trilogy. The story takes place in the late 19th century, shortly after Italy has gained its independence and absorbed the former Papal States. Zola repeatedly contrasts the former glory of Imperial Rome with the city’s present state of financial ruin and decay. The populace of Rome is split between two factions, the “black” and the “white”—those faithful to the Vatican and those loyal to the new Italian government. The church in turn is divided among those who adamantly cling to time-honored dogma and those who think the church must make concessions and broaden its appeal in order to survive in the modern world. Paris Paris is the third volume of the Three Cities trilogy. Published in 1898, Paris is Zola's summation of the 19th Century and his predictions and hopes for the 20th Century. In this work Zola gives a splendid portrayal of social life in Paris at the end of the century. He takes us into the lives of men and women of the upper classes, the working class, and even revolutionary Anarchists. Émile Zola (1840 – 1902), French novelist, critic, and political activist who was the most prominent French novelist of the late 19th century. He was noted for his theories of naturalism, which underlie his monumental 20-novel series Les Rougon-Macquart, and for his intervention in the Dreyfus Affair through his famous open letter, “J’accuse.”

"'Lourdes' came to be written by mere accident. In 1891 I happened to be travelling for my pleasure, with my wife, in the Basque country and by the Pyrenees, and being in the neighbourhood of Lourdes, included it in my tour. I spent fifteen days there, and was greatly struck by what I saw, and it then occurred to me that there was material here for just the sort of novel that I like to write-a novel in which great masses of men can be shown in motion-un grand mouvement de foule-a novel the subject of which stirred up my philosophical ideas. "It was too late then to study the question, for I had visited Lourdes late in September, and so had missed seeing the best pilgrimage, which takes place in August, under the direction of the Peres de la Misericorde, of the Rue de l'Assomption in Paris-the National Pilgrimage, as it is called. These Fathers are very active, enterprising men, and have made a great success of this annual national pilgrimage. Under their direction thirty thousand pilgrims are transported to Lourdes, including over a thousand sick persons.

Émile Édouard Charles Antoine Zola (2 April 1840 - 29 September 1902)[2] was a French writer.

"The Three Cities Trilogy Complete: Lourdes, Rome and Paris" by Émile Zola follows the beloved 'hero, Father Pierre Froment, who serves as the conductor for the three novels, Lourdes, Rome and Paris. In each of these city settings, Zola questions the role of religion in modern society, but also draws comparisons between a radiant bourgeoisie and the miserable working-class world that was present in Europe and continues to this day.

Rome is the second book of a trilogy that started with Lourdes and concludes with Paris. Often called the Three Cities trilogy, the books could also be called Faith, Hope, and Charity. Rome picks up the story of a disillusioned priest as he goes to Rome to defend his book which is to be placed on the Index of Prohibited Books. The story explores his hope for a new Christianity that will meet the needs of modern society and his confrontation with a religious organization unable to change with the times. Zola's critical description of Papal bureaucracy will not endear this work to devout Catholics, but his description of the inner workings of the Vatican is informative and fascinating.

"The Three Cities Trilogy - Lourdes" by Émile Zola. Émile Zola, french writer, the most important exemplar of the literary school of naturalism and an important contributor to the development of theatrical naturalism (1840-1902).