The novel explores the lives of several characters in three cities: Lourdes, Rome, and Paris. It delves into themes of faith, morality, and social class. The story follows a group of pilgrims traveling to Lourdes, where they seek spiritual redemption. Meanwhile, in Rome, a priest struggles with his own faith, and in Paris, a wealthy family's lives are marked by hypocrisy and moral decay. Through these interconnected narratives, the novel critiques the social and religious conventions of late 19th-century France.
By Émile Zola · First published 1894 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Realism, Historical Fiction · 5 chapters