The Kill: A Speculator's Paris

When Aristide Saccard arrives in Paris on a freezing December night, he has nothing but his wits and an unshakeable hunger for wealth. It is 1851, and the city is about to be demolished and rebuilt — a golden age for anyone bold enough to seize the spoils. Through inside knowledge, shady deals, and a convenient marriage to the beautiful young Renée, Saccard climbs to the top of a world of speculation, scandal, and champagne. But every fortune has its price. As Renée tumbles into a reckless affair with her own stepson, the gilded palace Saccard has built begins to crack. Sharp, sensual, and startlingly timely, The Kill is Zola's great novel of greed and desire. This retelling preserves the story's passion and bite in clear, natural modern English, making a classic masterpiece feel vivid and new. Part of Timeless Classics.