Nana

by Émile Zola, George Holden (Introduction), George Holden (Translator)

Overview

Born to drunken parents in the slums of Paris, Nana lives in squalor until she is discovered at the Théâtre des Variétés. She soon rises from the streets to set the city alight as the most famous high-class prostitute of her day. Rich men, Comtes and Marquises fall at her feet, great ladies try to emulate her appearance, lovers even kill themselves for her. Nana's hedonistic appetite for luxury and decadent pleasures knows no bounds - until, eventually, it consumes her. Nana provoked outrage on its publication in 1880, with its heroine damned as 'the most crude and bestial sort of whore', yes the language of the novel makes Nana almost a mythical figure: a destructive force preying on a corrupt society.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780141906591
Publisher:	Penguin UK
Publication date:	07/26/1973
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	480
File size:	495 KB
Age Range:	3 Months

About the Author

Emile Zola (1840-1902) was the leading figure in the French school of naturalistic fiction. His principal work, Les Rougon-Macquart, is a panorama of mid-19th century French life, in a cycle of 20 novels which Zola wrote over a period of 22 years.
George Holden is a known translator.

Editorial Reviews

This rather risqu 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.

Library Journal

"The translation...is fluid and true to the text. The A.G. Stevens cover print is an excellent choice."—Roy Arthur Swanson, Univ. of Wisconsin

From the Publisher

Narrator Leighton Pugh's quietly expressive vocal style and relaxed pacing help listeners engage with Zola's naturalistic and expansive novel of avarice, poverty, and degradation among all the social classes in nineteenth-century France. Pugh capably meets the dual challenges of illuminating the novel's lush descriptive language and imbuing the large cast with rich vocal characterizations. Indeed, Pugh's talented narration creates an almost theatrical experience. The plot centers on Nana Coupeau, a prostitute who becomes an immediate sensation when she appears in a Parisian theater production despite her lack of acting or singing ability. The abundant male attention she then receives propels the story. A lengthy but transporting audio treat. M.J. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine

MARCH 2019 - AudioFile

Narrator Leighton Pugh's quietly expressive vocal style and relaxed pacing help listeners engage with Zola's naturalistic and expansive novel of avarice, poverty, and degradation among all the social classes in nineteenth-century France. Pugh capably meets the dual challenges of illuminating the novel's lush descriptive language and imbuing the large cast with rich vocal characterizations. Indeed, Pugh's talented narration creates an almost theatrical experience. The plot centers on Nana Coupeau, a prostitute who becomes an immediate sensation when she appears in a Parisian theater production despite her lack of acting or singing ability. The abundant male attention she then receives propels the story. A lengthy but transporting audio treat. M.J. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine

MARCH 2019 - AudioFile