Product Description

This new translation is an accurate and stylish rendering of Zola's original, which was first published in 1880.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1163832 in Books
• Published on: 1970-01-01
• Released on: 1977-09-22
• Original language: English
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• 500 pages

From Library Journal
This rather risque novel?for 1880 that is?tells the story of ruthless protagonist Nana's rise from the gutter to the height of Parisian society. The book's heavy allusion to sexual favors caused it to be denounced as pornography upon publication, which, of course, made it a big hit.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Ingram
The story of Nana, a child of the Parisian slums, actress, and courtesan who uses her sexuality to amass great wealth and ruin her lovers, offers a shattering portrait of decadence among the wealthy and powerful of nineteenth-century France. Reissue.

Quatrième de couverture
Zola brûlait d'écrire Nana. "Je crois que ce sera bien raide. Je veux tout dire, et il y a des choses bien grosses. Vous serez content de la façon paternelle et bourgeoise dont je vais peindre les bonnes "filles de joie". En fait de joie, l'actrice, Nana, dévore les hommes, croque les héritages et plonge les familles dans le désespoir. Belle et prodigue, elle mène une danse diabolique dans le Paris du Second Empire, le Paris des lettres, de la finance et du plaisir. En se détruisant elle-même, elle donne le coup de grâce à une société condamnée, détestée par Zola. Neuvième volume de la série des Rougon-Macquart, Nana est le plus enivrant d'érotisme et de passion déchaînée.

Customer Reviews

Superb
The story takes place during the second empire of France, and it is a familiar one. Nana, a teenage prostitute, makes a stunning debut in the theater (Les Varietes) and soon becomes a sought after commodity. However, the power of her attraction to men proves self-destructive to all who fall under her charms. One after the other the lives of these men get caught up in the whirlwind of Nana's desire for comsumption and living, a whirlwind that leaves these men in ruination. The book is remarkable for the vivid portrait of these times and the people that brought such life to them. I absolutely loved this book.

Zola's masterpiece
With l'Assommoir, the best novel by Zola. This story of a young courtisane who breaks all rich men's hearts is a metaphor for the revenge of the working class against the bourgeoisie. Nana avenges the poor in her own way, she never forgets her origins (and they won't let her forget), and that is what will be her downfall, eventually.
I also highly recommend the TV miniseries 'Nana' with Véronique Genest, broadcast in the 80's (available on amazon.fr). You'll agree that generally, film adaptations of novels are disappointing, in that case it's not. The adaptation is brilliant and perfectly captures the novel's atmosphere; the actress Veronique Genest incarnates a wonderful Nana, very faithful to the essence of the character.
But read the novel first!

Disregard the blabbermouth Cameron Kennedy
"Nana", the exquisite novel by Emile Zola, being the ninth volume in his Rougon-Macquart cycle, is by far the one book that solidified M. Zola's reputation as a naturalist. His almost life-like prose that excells in evoking vast croud scenes and near-realistic settings make the novel so realistic that I felt I was right in front of the action taking place. The decadence of the Second Empire has been well portrayed by the courtesan Nana, a tart who swallows the wealth of the aristocrats who fall for her. The novel is also very symmetical with the rise and fall of Nana, depicting Nana the actress in the first past and the prostitute in the second. Written in clear prose, this work is A must read for all those lovers of 19th century french literature.
One advice: do NOT be misled by the words of cranks and scribblers who defame books so barbarously...they know NOTHING and are BLIND to good qualities of such works of art. Cameron Kennerdy is a such good-for-nothing that all must keep away from. Listen to me, a student of Bio-psychological Sciences and a patron of the arts.