A Love Episode

Emile Zola was a French writer, one of the brightest representatives of realism in literature. Zola is considered the father of the so-called 'naturalisme'. Emile Zola was a central figure of the French literature of the later 19th century. Zola managed to combine poetrical style of writing with deep philisophical ideas. Zola preached optimism and depicted this perception of life in his works.

'A Love Episode' is a novel which is considered the one that reflects Zola's talent to the full extent. The novel is a part of the 'Rougon-Macquart' series. The story takes place in France during the era of the Second Empire. As in many other books by Zola the life of bourgeoisie is portrayed. The central figure here is a widow Helen Grandjean who gets involved in a love affair with a doctor who once came to examine her little daughter.