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A Love Episode (Rougon-Macquart) Paperback – August 1, 2005
by Emile Zola (Author), Chauncey C. Starkweather (Author)
3.7 3.7 out of 5 stars 44 ratings
3.7 on Goodreads
2,204 ratings
Rougon-Macquart, volume 8: There can be no doubt in the mind of the judicial critic that in the pages of "A Love Episode" ("Une page d'amour") the reader finds more of the poetical, more of the delicately artistic, more of the subtle emanation of creative and analytical genius, than in any other of Zola's works... In all literature there is nothing like the portrayal of the punishment of Helene Grandjean. Helene and little Jeanne are reversions of type. The old "neurosis," seen in earlier bran-ches of the family, reappears in these characters. Readers of the series will know where it began. Poor little Jeanne, most pathetic of creations, is a study in abnormal jealousy, a jealousy which seems to be clairvoyant, full of supernatural intuitions, turning everything to suspicion, a jealousy which blights and kills. Could the memory of those weeks of anguish fade from Helene's soul? This dying of a broken heart is not merely the figment of a poet's fancy. It has happened in real life. The coming of death, save in the case of the very aged, seems, nearly always, brutally cruel, at least to those friends who survive. (C. C. Starkweather)
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Reading age
4 - 12 years
Print length
292 pages
Language
English
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akompano
5.0 out of 5 stars Great study of a neurosis and its social consequencesReviewed in the United States on August 4, 2005
Chronolgically, A Love Episode (Une Page d'amour) is the 8th volume of the Rougon-Macquart series. There can be no doubt in the mind of the judicial critic that in the pages of "A Love Episode" the reader finds more of the poetical, more of the delicately artistic, more of the subtle emanation of creative and analytical genius, than in any other of Zola's works... In all literature there is nothing like the portrayal of the punishment of Helene Grandjean. Helene and little Jeanne are reversions of type. The old "neurosis," seen in earlier bran-ches of the family, reappears in these characters. Readers of the series will know where it began. Poor little Jeanne, most pathetic of creations, is a study in abnormal jealousy, a jealousy which seems to be clairvoyant, full of supernatural intuitions, turning everything to suspicion, a jealousy which blights and kills. Could the memory of those weeks of anguish fade from Helene's soul? This dying of a broken heart is not merely the figment of a poet's fancy. It has happened in real life. The coming of death, save in the case of the very aged, seems, nearly always, brutally cruel, at least to those friends who survive. (C. C. Starkweather)
8 people found this helpful
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Kindle Customer
2.0 out of 5 stars an unloving translationReviewed in the United States on April 19, 2011
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zola is a beautiful writer.his descriptive passages are excellent in french or english. this translation is awful nut brown hair ample bosom. it destroys a good book.
4 people found this helpful
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Compulsive Reader
1.0 out of 5 stars Not a “real” book.Reviewed in the United States on October 1, 2018
What kind of book is this?! No introductory material or notes. Worse, the translator is not named. This is unforgivable, given that Zola fans and scholars can have very strong feelings about the different translations of a particular book. I’m returning it.
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myshiak
3.0 out of 5 stars A Transitional NovelReviewed in the United States on September 4, 2004
To those who have read George Sand it would seem that the plot of "Page d'Amour/Love Episode" is more akin to George Sand's and not Zola's novels (if to disregard a somewhat heavy-handed style of writing typical of Zola). George Sand's novels, however, usually have a happy ending. There are exceptions still; for example those who have read a lot of George Sand would recall that the ending of "Indiana" is somewhat bittersweet. The ending of "Page d'Amour/Love Episode" is also bittersweet in a sense that Helene Grandjean's daughter dies, but Helene marries the man who loves her.
The story is still too trite. Even historians say that Zola, who himself called this novel "syrupy", wrote it to quiet the critics, who accused him of scavenging dirty themes in "l'Assommoir/the Drum Shop". Lastly, it is important to note that after "Page d'Amour/Love Episode" Zola went on to "scavenge" another dirty theme in the novel "Nana".
3 people found this helpful
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LINDA LEVEN
2.0 out of 5 stars UNINTERESTINGReviewed in the United States on August 21, 2020
I love Zola's writing. There are many passages beautifully written. Long descriptions of weather, Paris, and other things that , although so beautiful written, I began to find tedious. I wanted to see more happening, and very little does. The main event, a love episode never really amounts to anything. It is mostly in 2 people's heads, and becomes also uninteresting. Having no interest in the mother, child subject, I could not empathize with this very large aspect of the story.
Altogether, I disliked this novel, and toward the end, i was skipping thru it!!
Not worth the effort!
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MICK MARTIN
5.0 out of 5 stars Five StarsReviewed in the United Kingdom on May 18, 2016
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Arrived on time and is a well presented book
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Magnus Macdonald
4.0 out of 5 stars Good quirky taleReviewed in the United Kingdom on November 7, 2012
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Fine part of the series, I can't comment. On the quality of the translation but the caractures and visuals rang true for me.
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Sarah Kendal
3.0 out of 5 stars melancholy musingReviewed in the United Kingdom on March 4, 2013
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I was excited to read my first Zola, and this seemed a good place to start. The language was beautiful, but the moralizing and melancholy tone seemed rather harrowing at times, and more relevant to another century. It did make me cry at points, but the plot was too linear, the anticlimactic moments frustrating. I enjoyed the characterisation and felt life mimicked in his words.
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Glen Lawlor
5.0 out of 5 stars Five StarsReviewed in the United Kingdom on October 7, 2014
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Pleased with service and product.
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ann valerie shephered
1.0 out of 5 stars Just sublime, as always.Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 12, 2016
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Always adore anything bt Zola.
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