Emile Zola — Loudres

Paris, Bibliotheque-Charpentier, 1894 . Leather. A later printing of Emile Zola"s controversial novel, Lourdes, a sceptical novel on pilgrimage and mass devotion. In a contemporary half calf binding with marbled paper boards endpapers renewed. One hundred twenty-seventh thousand. A French novel following Abbé Pierre Froment as he accompanies the paralysed Marie de Guersaint on a pilgrimage train to Lourdes. Inspired by Zola"s own visit to the grotto, the novel was controversial for its sceptical portrayal of Lourdes, treating miracle as a spectacle of suffering and crowd psychology, as opposed to being purely devine.  Emile Zola (1840-1902) was a French novelist, journalist, playwright, and leading figure of French Naturalism, who sought to apply scientific principles to fiction. Zola was nominated for the first and second Nobel Prizes in Literature in 1901 and 1902. In a contemporary half calf binding with marbled paper boards endpapers renewed. Externally, very smart. Upper extremities of front joint slightly cracked. The odd light mark to leather. Very small ink marking to front board at calf towards front joint. Internally, firmly bound. Pages characteristically age toned, more so to fore edge. Very Good Indeed . Ill.: None. Very Good Indeed .