French novelist and critic, the French novelist and critic, the founder of the Naturalist founder of the Naturalist movement in literature. Zola movement in literature. Zola redefined Naturalism as "Nature redefined Naturalism as "Nature seen through a temperament." seen through a temperament."

Emile Zola was born in Paris. His Emile Zola was born in Paris. His father, François Zola, was an father, François Zola, was an Italian engineer, who acquired Italian engineer, who acquired French citizenship. French citizenship.

NaturalisNaturalism m

was a literary movement taking place from the 1880s to 1940s that used detailed realism to suggest that social conditions, heredity, and environment had inescapable force in shaping human character.

It was depicted as a literary movement that seeks to replicate a believable everyday reality, as opposed to such movements as Romanticism or Surrealism, in which subjects may receive highly symbolic, idealistic, or even supernatural treatment. Naturalism is the outgrowth of literary realism, a prominent literary movement in mid-19th-century France and elsewhere. Naturalistic writers were frequently criticized for focusing too much on human vice and misery.

Before his breakthrough as a writer, Before his breakthrough as a writer, Zola Zola worked as a clerk in a shipping firm and worked as a clerk in a shipping firm and then in the sales department for a then in the sales department for a publisher (publisher (Hachette). He also wrote literary ). He also wrote literary and art reviews for newspapersand art reviews for newspapers

As a political journalist Zola did not As a political journalist Zola did not hide his antipathy toward the French hide his antipathy toward the French Emperor Napoleon III, who used the Emperor Napoleon III, who used the Second Republic as a springboard to Second Republic as a springboard to become Emperor. become Emperor.

During his formative years Zola wrote several short stories and essays, four plays and three novels.

Zola did not much believe in the possibility of individual freedom, but emphasized that "events arise fatally, implacably, and men, either with or against their wills, are involved in them. Such is the absolute law of human progress."

At first his plan was limited to 10 books, At first his plan was limited to 10 books, but ultimately the series comprised 20 but ultimately the series comprised 20 volumes, ranging in subject from the volumes, ranging in subject from the world of peasants and workers to the world of peasants and workers to the imperial court. Zola prepared his novels imperial court. Zola prepared his novels carefully. The result was a combination carefully. The result was a combination of precise documentation, accurate of precise documentation, accurate portrayals, and dramatic imagination; the portrayals, and dramatic imagination; the last had actually little to do with his last had actually little to do with his Naturalist theories. Naturalist theories.

Zola died of carbon monoxide poisoning caused by a stopped chimney on the 29th of September 1902. He was 62 years old. His funeral on 5 October was attended by thousands, according to the New York Times.