The Fat and the Thin

Émile Édouard Charles Antoine Zola (1840 – 1902) was a French writer, the most well-known practitioner of the literary school of naturalism and an important contributor to the development of theatrical naturalism in France. During his early years, Zola wrote numerous short stories and essays, four plays and three novels. Among his early books was Contes à Ninon, published in 1864. Some novels became the basis of films. His novel Les Mystères de Marseille appeared as a serial in 1867.


The Fat and the Thin is the third novel by Emile Zola written in 1873 for his twenty-volume serious Les Rougon-Macquart. The plot of the story focuses on the protagonist, Florent. Escaped from prison for political criminals mistakenly arrested after the French coup of 1851, he returns to his step-brother where he finds refuge. They took him for a job in the market as a fish inspector. But after getting involved into the inefficient socialist plot against the Empire, he is getting arrested and deported again. This is first novel by Zola where he represents the inequality of social classes referring middle bourgeoisie and lowest working class.