Emile Zola

Émile Zola was a French novelist, playwright, and journalist. Born on July 19, 1840, in Paris, France, he was a prominent figure in the Naturalist movement. Zola's writing often explored the lives of the working class and the struggles of everyday people. His most famous novel, Germinal, published in 1885, is considered a classic of French literature. Zola was also a pioneer in the field of journalism, using his newspaper, L'Action française, to advocate for social justice and reform. He was a vocal critic of the French government and was eventually exiled to England. Zola died on September 19, 1902, but his works continue to be widely read and studied today.