Theresa Raquin

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Zola, Émile, 1840-1902

Contributor:

Vizetelly, Ernest Alfred, 1853-1922

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource : multiple file formats

Place of Publication:

Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg,

Summary:

"Thérèse Raquin" by Émile Zola is a novel written in the late 19th century, which explores themes of passion, guilt, and the darker aspects of human nature. The story centers around Thérèse Raquin, a young woman trapped in a stifling existence with her sickly husband, Camille, and her overbearing aunt, Madame Raquin. The narrative delves into Thérèse's desires and the desperate choices she faces as she finds herself caught between societal expectations and her own repressed passions. At the start of the novel, we are introduced to the gloomy and oppressive setting of the Arcade of the Pont Neuf in Paris, where Thérèse runs a modest mercery shop with her husband and aunt. Thérèse is depicted as a quiet and obedient young woman living a monotonous life. Her physical description suggests strength beneath her subdued exterior. The dynamic shifts when Laurent, an old friend of Camille, reenters their lives, sparking a passionate affair between Thérèse and Laurent. Tension mounts as they navigate their forbidden relationship, hinting at the moral complexities and eventual consequences of their actions. The opening sets a dark and somber tone, foreshadowing the turmoil that ensues from Thérèse's burgeoning desires. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Credits:

Dagny, John Bickers and David Widger

Notes:

Reading ease score: 78.8 (7th grade). Fairly easy to read.

Wikipedia page about this book: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Th%C3%A9r%C3%A8se_Raquin

Release date is 2006-04-22