The story revolves around Gervaise Macquart, a young woman who leaves her husband Lantier and their two children to start a new life in Paris. She finds work as a laundress and eventually opens her own laundry business. However, her past soon catches up with her as Lantier reappears, causing trouble for Gervaise and her new family. The novel explores themes of poverty, morality, and the struggles of working-class women during the late 19th century in France.
By Émile Zola · First published 1874 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance · 5 chapters