La Bête Humaine (1890) – Émile Zola
Is possessing and killing fundamentally the same deep down in the dark hiding place of the human beast? This novel by Émile Zola is one of his most violent and explicit works. At first glance a story about murder, passion, and possession, but also a compassionate study of people dominated by ancient, uncontrollable instincts.
Zola considered this his 'most carefully elaborated' novel. He sketches life at the end of the Second Empire in France, in which society was developing rapidly, just like the new locomotives and railways. Although he expresses hope that human nature develops through education and frees itself from original sin, he reminds us of the enduring presence of the beast beneath the surface of technological progress.
This new translation retains Zola's fast but detached style. The introduction and extensive notes place the novel in its social, historical, and literary context.
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Language and level
This edition is in French and suitable for advanced readers (C1-C2). The learning material is extremely suitable for self-study and education focused on language skills and literature.
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