The Three Cities, Lourdes Volume III
The novel revolves around the lives of several characters connected to the three cities of Lille, Beauvais, and Paris. It explores themes of love, family, politics, and social class during the late 19th century in France. The story follows Pierre Froment, a priest who becomes disillusioned with the Catholic Church, and his relationships with various women, including his cousin Marie and the courtesan Albine. Meanwhile, a subplot involves a group of revolutionaries seeking to overthrow the French government. Throughout the novel, Zola critiques the social and political institutions of his time, highlighting their corruption and hypocrisy.
By Émile Zola · First published 1894 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Realism, Historical Fiction · 5 chapters · 46,708 words
First lines
AT seven o'clock on the morning of that fine, bright, warm August Sunday, M. de Guersaint was already up and dressed in one of the two little rooms which he had fortunately been able to secure on the third floor of the Hotel of the Apparitions. He had gone to bed at eleven o'clock the night before and had awoke feeling quite fresh and gay. As soon as he was dressed he entered the adjoining room which Pierre occupied; but the young priest, who had not returned to the hotel until past one in the morning, with his blood heated by insomnia, had been unable to doze off until daybreak and was now still slumbering. His cassock flung across a chair, his other garments scattered here and there, testified to his great weariness and agitation of mind.
What this Textopian page supports
The Three Cities, Lourdes Volume III is listed on Textopian as a novel by Émile Zola, dated 1894 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Émile Zola
- Date: 1894 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Literary Fiction, Realism, Historical Fiction, Social Commentary, Drama
- Length: 46,708 words
- Structure: 5 chapters, 495 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Three Cities, Lourdes Volume III by Émile Zola
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Three Cities, Lourdes Volume III?
- How does this novel by Émile Zola fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Literary Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Three Cities Lourdes Volume Ii by Emile Zola
- The Three Cities Lourdes Volume V by Emile Zola
- The Three Cities Lourdes Volume Iv by Emile Zola
- Whosoever Shall Offend by F. Marion Crawford
- The Three Cities Paris Volume Iii by Emile Zola
- The Three Cities Lourdes Volume I by Emile Zola
Genres
- Literary Fiction — The book explores complex characters and their emotional and psychological struggles, typical of literary fiction.
- Realism — Zola's work reflects real-life situations, social issues, and the human condition, characteristic of the realism movement.
- Historical Fiction — Set in a specific historical context, the narrative incorporates real events and societal norms of the time.
- Social Commentary — The text critiques social structures, religious practices, and human behavior, providing insight into societal issues.
Tags
French literature · 19th century novel · Catholicism · Religion · Spirituality · Pilgrimage · Miracles · Faith healing · Historical fiction · Social commentary · Realist movement · Naturalism