ZOLA EMILE: (1840-1902) French Writer. Nominated for the first and second award of the Nobel of ...

ZOLA EMILE: (1840-1902) French Writer. Nominated for the first and second award of the Nobel of literature in 1901 and 1902. A leading figure in the political liberalization of France. A very fine A.L.S., `Emile Zola´, two pages, 8vo, written to the first and third page, Paris, 10th February 1877, in French. Zola doesn´t want that his manuscript reaches Monaco too late, explaining `J´ai passé ce matin au Palais Royal, où l´on m´a dit que Plunkett était encore à Monaco. Seulement, on n´a pas voulu me dire si son retour est plus ou moins prochain. Tachez donc de me savoir immédiatement la chose. Je voudrais lui envoyer là-bas le manuscrit, mardi; mais il ne faudrait pas que le manuscrit se croisat avec lui´ (Translation: "I went this morning to the Palais Royal, where I was told that Plunkett was still in Monaco. Only, they didn't want to tell me if his return is more or less imminent. So try to let me know immediately. I would like to send him the manuscript there on Tuesday; but the manuscript should not arrive late´ Further Zola makes a funny comment and refers to one of his works, saying `Ce matin, la marchande de curiosités de la rue de Rennes nº 68, Mademoiselle Guilleau, m´a supplié de lui envoyer les Rougon-Macquart, en me jurant qu´elle nous vendrait toute sa boutique au prix coûtant, à vous et à moi. Envoyez-lui la série, n´est-ce pas? Cela nous permettra de la marchander´ (Translation: "This morning, the seller of curiosities, rue de Rennes nº 68, Mademoiselle Guilleau, begged me to send her the Rougon-Macquarts, swearing that she would sell her entire shop to you and me at cost. Send her the series, right? This will allow us to trade with her") VG

Les Rougon-Macquart is the collective title given to a cycle of twenty novels by Zola. Subtitled "Histoire naturelle et sociale d'une famille sous le Second Empire" ("Natural and social history of a family under the Second Empire"), it follows the lives of the members of the two titular branches of a fictional family living during the Second French Empire and is one of the most prominent works of the French naturalism literary movement.