Zola and Literary Naturalism Author(s): B. W. Wells Reviewed work(s): Source: The Sewanee Review, Vol. 1, No. 4 (Aug.

, 1893), pp. 385-401 Published by: The Johns Hopkins University Press Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/27527774 . Accessed: 02/12/2011 03:28
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THE

SEWANEE
Voiv. I.] AUGUST,

REVIEW.
1893. [No. 4.

ZOLA AND
IT that is now La series some Fortune

LITERARY

NATURALISM.1
since the the preface of of programme is just of the undertook of nerve of a primary surroundings feelings, natural de and to and

twenty-five des Rougon if we In

years ago announced call

coming Revue Hebdomadaire. show blood organic in each how declare lesion, of the "the

of novels, to a close with slow and all

may Pascal Docteur that succession

them

so, which in the columns

Zola preface, of accidents to his it, the

themselves individuals the

in a race as the result according that human compose

determine

manifestations, sires, passions, we the conventional to whose give instinctive, products to others a has This and vices.'' names, virtues suggested to Zola it was perhaps remark of Taine, suggested by which himself, sugar." it with volumes social that But before "virtue Zola are products, like vitriol and to at the have taken seems, outset, than its originator. So in the nineteen and vice at least

less reserve

and us, we have what he calls "the natural a the under of Second family Empire." They history to his essay, "Le Roman Experimental," are to be, according studies of social of the most works realism, minute thorough phenomena to cite his indefatigable locomotive for each trait in which he cab,
Zola.

the studies shares

author

shall

be able So with

authority, conscientiousness from the engine

par Emile

"human

documents"

in short. the

of a the workings life of the farm,

1La D?b?cley

Paris.

1892.

386
and of even makes "naturalism"?and yet,

The

Sewanee

Review. to Lourdes, all of advertisement. in the interest

a pilgrimage

perhaps in spite of it all, in spite of himself, Zola is not a naturalist, but rather the greatest of living French ideal since of Victor her first ists, and, death, prose poets. Hugo's was most in its time, by This out, interestingly brought And Symonds, itself not in his alone review of La B?te Humaine} R?ve, in Germinal Zola of Le but and on readers It impresses in another and in La D?b?cle.

in La Terre, kind higher seems to us fortunate. This wrong,

but his literary instinct a palm too of praise while his scholars, ideal, and earns are apt to weary to his teachings, and dishearten. faithful if The vast range of Zola's social studies becomes apparent in the briefest aims of to cover affixed this the central way, all France. The to Une subjects ot family-tree ex d?Amour,

is a genius; his theory is is right. He rises above his

we of

review, merely He his volumes. hibits

Page three generations, family within representatives des Rougon, La Fortune La in almost social every sphere. La Faute de PAbb? Mouret show us life Conqu?te de Plassans, in provincial towns. The farm furnishes the scene of La de Vivre. for La Joie Germinal Terre, and, in a measure, a us de Paris to miners' Le Ventre strike introduces ; great and La of the Paris market the Halles. tells gardens Cur?e deals with and Son the financial debauch that followed takes up to care tale the the the to of coup d'?tat, of parable Eug?ne Rougon Nana introduces corruption. political of lubricity those who inner shrine of. the goddess see its foulness, while E Assommoir is a temperance the Paris workmen. The small Excellence

the Rougon-Macquart,

shop-keepers and the great establishments in Pot-Bouille, are spread before us and Au Lotivre Marche La B?te Humaine is a railroad des Dames. deals with D?b?cle with artist life, EArgent the army, which
October,

are represented like Aw Bon in Au Bonheur epic, D uvre La exchange, or no, he will

with

the

stock

takes, whether

^Fortnightly

Review,

1891.

Zola a considerable mysticism Passionate forms place the

and Literary in every subject is analyzed of

Naturalism. Frenchman's that exquisite in Une Page life.

387 Religious idyl Le R?ve. d^Amour, celi?

jealousy Faute de VAbb? Mouret, in La and clerical in ambition bacy so we might La Conqit?te de Plassans. And but go on, surely effort has been enough has been said to show that an honest a microcosmic of French picture the third Napoleon. to form a literary plan that a Few men have the courage a of of unremitting, labor shall century quarter pains-taking not to complete. Yet suffice the plan of this series was to make this series life under the star of Fewer formed still, having clearly thought out from the first. to carry it to an end. such a plan, have the endurance But in which instance Zola's is the unique the popular perhaps in the author and his work has increased to the last. interest A brilliant of him. Critics may weary a few months us that Zola tells ago, day1; but on the other hand as to what the Petit Journal the French but essayist, writing is a matter of yester editors, consulted by

made

form the real should forty men in of found the that Zola "Academy" forty self-elected, place headed the largest number the poll with 1,193 votes, while was to any competitor accorded and Daudet 774 for Taine, we But beyond could muster but 718. have the clear this, est evidence of his works. that Zola's The first in the sales is not waning, popularity an aver six of the series have attained

No volume that follows has fallen age sale of less than 32,000. aside the somewhat below 44,000. Leaving phenomenal success and Nana, with sales of 127,000 and of D Assommoir and L*Assom or, including Nana 67,000, an the But four of while moir, average 87,000. following, no such success, yet averaged 90,000, containing conspicuous time and La D?b?cle, his last work, though for the shortest on the the market, already time of our writing.
d'Ecrivains, par

166,000 respectively, an average of over

we

have

for

the next

six of

the

series

exceeds

all the others this

Paris.

with

Certainly
R?ne Doumic.

looks

176,000 very much

1892.

at as

^Portraits

Delaplane.

388

The

Sewanee public, M.

Review. Zola were still very much

to the reading though, a man of the present. It is with this

particu that a word larly to deal fitting of diction and of sub should first be said of some qualities are associated to his which Zola's with name, probably ject in the of minds It is said the readers. that many prejudice conversation words that and of the lower that classes in his books abounds with nay, strangely phrases polite, the dictionary will not always suffice to pilot us through the unknown its mazes. Further, by the known judging are I fear with of these words many suspected, good reason, or less coarse, or even to be more To low, blasphemous. use such our objection Zola will answer, "Such men would and this I think every person who has associated language;" as the foreign student of man with them, even superficially, or wine-shops do in the caf?s and at popular and entertainment will of find confirmed festivals, by places now If is it to worth while show the work his experience. as he is, a study of his language man not to be is a means ners can neglected. Faubourg "The style Saint-Antoine as truly in the is the man" quite as in the Academy. shall never We we draw the moral of if any class decay sound to ears

last book, La D?b?cle, but it is perhaps here;

that we wish

quite comprehend a veil over all their question some with than of quantity

justice It is also true that such read is artistically justifiable. to some people, who would rather ing may be unpleasant in Dahomey than of the heathen at of the heathen hear not whose of does them in and others calling home, bring forms. These will baser social leave contact with naturally see that but on the other hand we hardly it is it aside; likely to injure those get every deeper insight that separates gulf ual, and aesthetic of their fellow from the toiling majority those and deepen to strengthen feelings that whom we it does into not while offend, the moral, intellect the reading public men, of should duty to tend our

of it. There is of course a expressions as well as of degree. It may be urged that there is more of this in Zola's work

Zola neighbor Socialism." There made them. that

and Literary the basis

Naturalism. of what is called

389 "Christian

lie at

is another Zola are

against They

and a graver and his books said to be To between

that is most usually charge do not read by those who immoral." of the author sets out with We and the

may distinguish the effect of the book.

here

"shockingly the intent who

an author

to be pornographic, is easier than to suc nothing attempt form of all wit, ceed in his chosen for the this, line, cheapest than any and understood is more universally appreciated such success of its moral other. To say nothing bearings, must Mend?s much A Catulle satisfy only the lowest of literary ambitions. to to this and a Silvestre be may willing prostitute too too But Zola is end what talents serious, they possess.

to him such frivolity, in earnest, for us to attribute in his little of the satyr even and is very indeed there none as so at in I last. far all this see, and, youthful writing, a page with pornographic intent. I doubt if Zola ever wrote But
book.

to acquit it in

the

author be

does denied

not that scenes

necessarily the and

exculpate

the

Now novels should

cannot this

series

contain

greater part of the that we situations

Not only do they read. be sorry to have promiscuously a fulness our finer senses, that shocks bring before us, with to the confined of experiences that are usually the details nurse in before the work and the surgeon?for us, instance, after the the field hospital limbs outside of hand horrible touch the that battle, forgotten lying such as the ferocity by the door, or some scene of bestial of the Prussian spy, Goliath, by the franc-tireurs butchery p. 538)?but they also admit us to penetralia [La Debacle, the pile of human with that English relations writers and maternal of the sexual are apt to avoid, or at least to veil. It may be perhaps that are alike justified. It is not a suf and French both English to say or to prove that it is of a book condemnation ficient not many fit to be read treatises everywhere, most essential are There always, and by all. to the alienist and the phy

39?
sician that would All libraries

The

Sewanee

Review.

on many effects readers. produce morbid a to the and of have tell story public persistent to efforts abuse books that have their legitimate ingenious use. Now addresses to several the English himself novelist classes circle. of readers that the Frenchman of novel write with excludes readers the from among fear of his us the I suppose are women, and the majority our novelists

ever before their eyes. I do not mean by this ewige Weibliche we not Albert Ross and that they are always moral. Have to extend Am?lie the list. and?but it is not necessary Rives Still our English ridian than the who is calculated immorality In France French. there of a work us into He from whom of the for another is a school me of

writers of

regard the morality indifference. But this brings of Mend?s as the and

of art as a matter com unsavory Zola is as dif out the to paint society he

pany ferent

part low motives, and chief he of sexual finds the action these among passion, springs of course the itself more which among expresses frankly an as all passions do. is lower orders of society, Repression studies under the domination of acquired enough; art of civilization. he sets down His vision of the facts is clear when he nothing observations in malice. literary The poet idealist, the social However, form, he the

palm it. life as he finds

Silvestre, from its parasite. He finds a large

sets

to give his attempts false to his naturalist the statistician,

own.

theory. an and becomes whether has real

gets to our gain life he

is perforce better of and his

If we Nana

ask

ourselves in the verse

or E Assommoir and

licentiousness chapter normal

anything corresponding life of Paris, he will be ready with of to answer. And yet it is not typical

in depicts to its base

nor ought to it to be; for fiction, conditions, average we show us not where be a social power, must stand, but those we are going. And this it does by showing whither so it is well And furthest. the current has carried whom and need to know its live in the world that men, who must as the story should its good evil as well tendencies, ponder

Zola of Nana and Lantier, it is pleasant

and Literary of Gervaise reading, dedication

Naturalism. and of Maurice. but there is much "to my of Sapho,

391 I do not of bitter son when

say that in Daudet's wisdom he Now

is twenty years old." if, as Bruneti?re and because

des deux Mondes its universality study of social

is constantly in the Revue preaching French literature has earned elsewhere,1

its energies have been directed to the while the literature does problems, English to and to the the German the individual, homage philosophic such a holding of the mirror up to spirit, is it not precisely even in its deformity, that will make this social liter nature, as a reflection ature useful of social conditions and public so to French and fit literature maintain the place it morals, won has the literatures of the world? it is among Assuredly not of M. Ohnet, soporific platitudes of the decadent that will poets ravings ambition. other any worthy the But nor assist the incoherent it in this or

to justify Zola against those though we are disposed are we to a prurient who accuse him of pandering fancy, glad in French, that he has written and we could wish that he even as execrably had not been translated, and incompletely as he has been. It is well that some books, good and neces " understanded sary as they be, should not be in a language a pope once I believe of the people." included the Bible and is said it that the French among them, philosopher Taine the wish that some of his books had been expressed so much in Latin, not have been that he might misunder stood by the Philistines. one need, however, For this last work of Zola's make few or men to talk their reservations. continue apologies Vulgar own language, it is true ; there may be some questions of all but could offend that the matron British is literary taste, even a forced into the from anxiously background, where, artistic point purely or for. The subject,
1E. g.,

of shall

view we

such rather

reticence say the

is uncalled scene of this

in the Fortnightly

Review

for October,

1892.

392
novel is the terrible This Commune. peared Maurice, pressing

The

Sewanee

Review.

war and the year of the Franco-Prussian as it ap is unrolled to us in the main to two members of the Rougon-Macquart family. a Parisian, and ex yet narrow, educated, feeling with what threatens to be wearisome iteration the of his

little staying race, brave at times, yet with degeneracy or mental the who Commune power, finally physical, joins in a fit of patriotic do and whose that Jean, pessimism; mestic a considerable part in La Terre, played who becomes here a type of the sober-minded, sound-hearted in Nei whom lies the of his future country. peasant hope misfortunes is typical of the average French soldier, but each in his kind is the most of social forces that in product developed or less degree. all France in a greater fluenced is Jean ther Maurice's and in their squad we find the country corporal; some with recollections of his early lad, Pache, religious a the sport, and at last the victim of Chouteau, training, Parisian Ivoubet, redeemed the squad, a character for cooking, useful by a genius for us the shifty incompetence of the French are these the Above Rochas, lieutenant, and convinced that the brave, thoroughly voyou, and Lapoulle, in the other man whose god was his has his worth

worthless belly. lessness

in developing commissariat.

but ignorant French face to face with have only to be brought any enemy ? coups de pied ? derri?re. to drive them Then indefinitely is the captain, there Beaudoin, contempt proud, dandified, uous for an amorous his post toward his men, deserting rendezvous ing death Vineuil, on the eve of Sedan, but brave, hated The without good manners. forgetting and the and meet

Bourgain-Desfeuilles, general, to show and yet clearly enough lightly sketched, not could countervail officers in the self-indulgent and overconfident incapacity. of the forced march The story opens with to Mulhouse, married and introduces us to Weiss, sister. Henriette, Maurice's

de colonel, are more that bravery impatience

Corps has who

Seventh an Alsacian, He lives at

the

Zola Sedan, of the and knows issue. We

and Literary too much meet also

Naturalism. affairs

393 to be hopeful

of frontier their

Fouchard, cousin, son of a miserly of the and catch our first glimpse peasant, a servant at Fouchard's. Prussian sometime spy, Goliath, The first chapters picture, perhaps, in too great detail the grad ual discouragement of the troops as they and disorganization and countermarch, march without purpose, without apparent or without a chance in sight of to cook them, never rations, and insulted themselves the enemy, their leaders insulting hun in and midst of the this the by they abandoned; people we about catch sight of the Emperor, gry disorder "dragged like a useless condemned establishment, and baggage encumbrance to trail his behind among him the baggage the irony of of his his troops, imperial

Honor?

his carriages, horses, cooks, Cent-Gardes, and their with their silver wagons, saucepans A the book, more tragic figure throughout champagne." sinned against than guilty. we Gradually into the enemy of the German see the army forced by its blunders and by the and the great shears fortified trap at Sedan, on them. And to this armies close begin

that of French prose brings us to one of the finest pieces the first of Bazeilles, this century has given us, the defense where of the German attack, 285-297) point (pp. 212-224, a as before is shot civilian, Weiss, combating being captured Indeed the and almost in her arms. eyes of his wife, acme a of is its whole battle Sedan reaching masterpiece, di in of the great cavalry Margueritte's charge perhaps famous well the vision which may supersede (pp. 319-322), the Waterloo of mind Here charge literature. of Victor Hugo as the finest battle picture

to re set up in Sedan there is a field hospital Meantime us that the horrors of war do not end with the battles.

science

a sympathetic of is surgeon combination Bouroche, now against and heart, who contends administrative and after the capitulation against Prussian jeal incapacity, It would be interesting to know with what authority

ousy.

394 the statement his wounded, them. among On sick

The is made though

Sewanee

Review. him chloroform for

that they refused there were Germans

as well

as French

the morning in body and without its virtue, ing This to hide des last touch

of the battle we see the Emperor again, a constancy at heart, and with that is not now seeking death in the front, now striv on his face. with the traces of disease rouge

Revue

has brought of the upon Zola the thunders deux Mondes, of fire followed the by scattering seems smaller journals. not lack The untrue, story though true or false, the controversy ; but whether ing some evidence it has Zola where been the of considerable statement that value he since it has such evoked from M. details

over matters

as regards a poet may suits that take the version justly in naturalistic liter of "probable him, a doctrine opinions" ature that adds much that Zola is force to our contention thinks Zola himself really an idealist. to cavil. should not have been disposed of one superb, worthy the figure of Napoleon grandeur." readers will This will of III. that He artistic "finds critics the act

heroes, heightening Shakspere's of infinite to a tragic melancholy idea that be the thoughtful probably conception of the Emperor even

form of Zola's explanation.

without After of

his the

the battle

"bombarded

scene the most striking cavalry charge, perhaps is that of a retreat through a cannonaded wood, on all sides at their post, falling trees, killed

in the their fronds, soldiers. Beneath like immobile, giant aisles down delicious green half-light, mysterious carpeted of the forest The solitude brutal death. with moss, breathed till and those hidden corners, where, violated, now heard the gasps of the then, lovers alone had wandered, a had only time chest his One man, ball, by pierced dying. two whose to cry 'hit,' and fell on his face dead. Another, uncon a still broken been had shell, laughed, by just legs on a stumbled that he had of his wound, scious thinking on ran root. with pierced Others wounded, limbs, mortally At convulsions. for many they fell in sudden yards before springs was

Zola the first was out

and Literary

Naturalism.

395

were hardly even the worst wounds It felt. instant, and later dreadful burst that the only sufferings began, in cries and tears."

that massacred forest, that in the "Oh, that cursed wood, of the expiring trees was being midst of the sobbing filled . . . little by little with the shrieking of the wounded distress But The the dead and who it was the wounded fell was fate; were no longer reckoned. Not even would there comrade a step back;
next ....

abandoned, another, the

forgotten.

himself, edge .... of

perhaps, the wood

be

"All rang

at once

as they

reached

an appealing Then that cry: seeing 'Help' he 'The At and cried: nobody flag.' stopped, caught breath, a bound, Rochas, the whose back, caught darting flag, pole was broken, while his words stifled in the ensign murmured, out And he foam: 'It's all up with me. Save the flag.' bloody on the moss, in that delicious remained alone writhing wood land dell, his clenched the with his grass hands, tearing with a rattle that lasted for hours." heaving and get tempo And then as they emerge from the wood, meet from their general, shelter the rary enemy's fire, they a with woman, curses, peasant asking crippled frightened And all the horrible the road to Belgium. day, we through chest glimpses on motionless, panorama as catch now the and then heights it unrolled the of King of Mari?e, William, watching silent the and great

of Europe. destiny changing as he carries the stunned contrast, Maurice, And, strange Jean from the field, sees, in a little valley, by its protected "a his land, pushing steep sides, peasant methodically tilling to a great white him his plough, before harnessed horse. Why corn lose a day? Because would fighting, people were cease to grow, and the world to live?" of a battle end close does not The its horrors. of his fianc?e for the body of Honor? allows the The a de

search

has many of great power. It is which passages scription true that they take us over in part the same ground that we and before in the story of the battle have traversed itself;

396
this has artistic writer and seemed

The a fault

Sewanee

Review.

defect, though sure of his power, the process up French cents

to some, but to our mind it is not an a bold venture it is certainly of a to describe and then the with result. equal vividness Here we see are from dead

care first

a boy picking him five giving the fresh zouaves dragged it rather them But seated the

rifles, for which apiece ; there a flock they found carousing still living, had of

the Germans of crows rise a group of "Had

carrion.

In Balan

as though themselves there, Prussians

at a table. to die

around

among to me so weird

who it as a mockery all the horrors of as this scene felt He 'The of some

picked the old French

they Was together? them up, and set gayety?" none seems

this ghastly search, in the open field. shake and the under had turned, horses,

"Suddenly Prosper ling of a terrific charge. cry to his companion: self behind that wall.' "From horses, the height

the ground

the tramp to just time throw your

horses;

free, riderless, and rushed toward them plunged were the lost beasts who had remained instinct or oats nibbled hunger had gathered themselves since two days, they had the hedges, pricked in a mad gnawed their bellies

a neighboring still carrying

an hundred slope all their trappings, at an infernal pace. They

on the field, and by in a troop. Without hay the scanty grass, cropped the bark of the trees, and when like a spur, across off all they went the empty plain, Later on we hear sold to the thrifty

charged together gallop, the wounded." the dead, killing crushing one by one, and that they were caught, francs apiece. for twenty peasants Human Germans to the

picture. a servant with where woods, was a corner thy repose

were the dead, and the already stripping harpies were hastening the peasants their burial, compelling we of have this little it in the while midst all, task, "At the farm-house there were only Prussians, and her child who had come back from the It and thirst. they had nearly died of hunger wor of humor of patriarchal (bonhomie), good after the fatigues of the previous days. Some

Zola soldiers were

and Literary

Naturalism. uniforms a neat

397 on hung darn in his

clothes-lines.

carefully Another

their brushing was finishing

in the middle of the court-yard the cook of the trousers, while a the soup was boiling great fire over which post had lighted a good odor of cabbage in a great pot, which and exhaled was itself lard. The with per already conquest organizing and discipline. You might have taken them for citizens, home their On a long pipes. smoking again, had taken in his arms bench at the door, a great ruddy mail or a of five him the servant's six, and he made child, boy fect tranquillity jump, much to him in German, words caressing to see the child laugh at this strange amused language he could not understand." which with the rough syllables, In Sedan for the soldiers who itself there was a man-hunt and said little to escape and cellars in garrets But captivity. we must pass over this, as well as the temporary confinement of Iges, where of the starving the army on the peninsular had hidden to provide at once for the needs of this to march intense On the multitude Ger suffering. and Jean escape, but Jean Maurice is wounded and many, to remain in secret, under the care of Henriette, constrained German inability caused to Paris while Maurice the whole winter, gets finally during in to the siege. in time take part we in a military of which is a nurse Henriette hospital, care but her devoted of has have some vivid sketches, Jean gradually mutual both, quite unconsciously, at first the 510th page the shadow feelings of tenderness. across the naturalistic But Jean is of romance passes sky. he to the however army; stays long enough rejoin impatient murder of the Prussian to witness the horrible spy, Goliath, Here the franc-tireurs, for whom it is clear the author has no aroused in them

by

at last in Paris, after Jean rejoins Maurice great sympathy. and on the eve of the Commune. the surrender, Physical balance the mental of the have upset and moral suffering sees he and of the the future only youth, hope high-strung in the the destruction of the of vortex the present. Hence he is drawn into course whither of the sober Commune,

398
minded won't captain going would that." Jean stay, told me there. if it's

The cannot for to go

Sewanee follow this him.

Review. "Oh,

Though You must feel That's natural. go just the same. so And In these brief words we have his character.

no, no, my dear, I he says. pretty business," "My to Vaugirard, with my men, and I'm were of God I the thunder there,

at the barricades, to meet Jean they part, again piercing in the midst of blazing Maurice with his bayonet, Paris, and man in the wounded in arms, his brother then, recognizing home to him whither Henriette has Montmatre, bearing just made her way mortally ever he may have eous judgment. beginning. And well. "The so a thousand to find her brother through perils, and her lover his murderer, to her, how wounded, been It was was the to others, of a right the executioner had hardly had a the end of what left for them but to sob, fare nothing closes with the burned dignified house simplicity. and levelled,

There

book

fallow, ravaged to the on, marching Jean, most humble, most dolorous, went a re to France be hard whole the task, future, to the great,
created."

field was

seems to us the height of art. Mr. Moore, This simplicity to be deeply "it thinks in the Fortnightly Review, regretted to not and develop the winds throw history that M. Zola did of friends in civil human the beautiful story of the division war." picture such "would have given us another it seems, Balzac, or as we Le in de Cur? find of manly Village," grief us and the cruelty of capture have given "he would in the squad of Jean to serve been condemned have would Jean told off each to shoot for in other's to death

perhaps the refusal Maurice;

and, subordination, holding again perhaps, died together." dislike We have the friends would hands, a critic, but it seems to us precisely to differ from so eminent a cheap ap that he did not end it so, with Zola's greatness as kill makes but that he to Maurice, sentiment, Jean peal and then take up sane France killed the insane Commune, sad resolution. We have no quarrel with his task* again with M. Zola's self-restraint here, but if we are to criticise aught

Zola it would elsewhere. be

and Literary with shows this

Naturalism. same critic, it could that have he

399 lacks it

in accord The book

filed, haste; and above all, pruned. It does not leave on us the polished, as a whole that branded itself on our minds vivid impression or Nana. seems to us to be after from Germinal Its place these, with LAssommoir But even if we accord which scene this not how modern literature of countless and La it this Terre. second it is a book for place, is the is distinctly the richer. War never had the like of but we have war means; in the field;

been

tales, to bring before us with reality what startling in his tent, but to the soldier to the general it rouses sometimes

in the worst often the best, more our nature, how, finally, for a France, of which the Rougon it was the only road to regen family were typical, Macquart a were time must if there yet road, which eration, haply
show.

We

have

seen do not course

that Zola The recent

is looked and the

of yesterday. change, we lines. mond Of

say development, a school that counts

on by some as a matter of literary latest phases are not on naturalistic the venerable Ed Hen Alexis, is adherents

de Goncourt

and Ceard nique, not dead, and this Rosny, Caraguel, But the criticism newer

as its doyen, and Huysmans, or recent its present among leaves out of account the Mirbeau, Geffroy, of the day is apt

neo-naturalists, Hermant. and especially to take more notice of the

schools, occultists, symbolists, metaphy psychologists, or whatever to dub themselves. they are pleased we of these all the romancers however, groups, Among and Bourget. discern only in Maupassant signs of longevity a follower once of Zola, then an intro former was The sicians, alas! and is now, insane, psychologist, pessimist to his which fellow the reached psychologists goal having Mau than they. are tending with somewhat greater speed master of the short the is story, unequalled simply passant spective and grace of style. in concise power, strength surpassed &psychologis te intijne who has managed to touch is Bourget in the hearts of the ladies of this per a responsive chord never

4<x) generation. fellows, Lavedan a school Renan, study.

guarda

The

Sewanee

Review.

verse

For
e passa.

He is peculiarly theirs, but he and his and Barres, belong to the school of rather and will which demands repay a separate : Non di lor, ma then the present ragioniam No author The scenic stands as to alone, whether of Zola has its fore of Gautier, and in Balzac. The Gon how to deal Lacertaux.

To his

return

to Zola. future.

past runners the

or his

realism

in the accurate

psychological courts, too, before his day had social the lowest with strata, Indeed He with Zola the whole

laborious

descriptions of analyses shown as in

literature Germanie

matter

true to be more proposes to understand he proposes not the nature of and by nature mass or the educated of of but the the reading, class, great a a and keener To his task he brings wider the community. because

of degree. is a question to nature than his predecessors,

not

but his books are than any of his contemporaries, of their but be accuracy, photographic great cause of the poetic idealism he infuses a natur with which be as dreary as the subjects this would alism that without observation of which it treats. it would If Germinal be as that erage miner, its narrowing, rather idealized followers the bonds the life of the av pictured in life itself is, oppressive It avoids the genius same has this, and gives us of Zola has broken been the case with deserved de or have

dull monotony. types in which theory. who have The

of his

all his it. Of

achieved

the five who

M?dan, Maupassant of Flaubert; Hennique, become Enqu?te of imagination

cooperated soon drifted second

success, Zola with back in talent

in the Soir?es

his view that the literature a the coordinate may place with justly claim more and Huysmans, while Alexis of observation, literature than their pope, find but scanty fame or patronage. catholic met all have of their masters caricatures These certainly the success they deserve. of pessimism. Huysmans If men would makes but himself read his the books,

of an eclectic somewhat sur VEvolution Litt?raire

to the early influences has of the group, in Huret's records Ceard ;

apostle

Zola

and Literary

Naturalism. cannot

401 deny succession

he might be a successful for one missionary, that there is a distorted talent in the wearisome of nastiness which makes

or L? Bas. But we up A Rebours were to read for something better than to give our taught a literary nausea. the moral selves We miss that purpose us patient made Nature is full of decay, with Nana. but books that seem to spring from the phosphorescence of a rot ting brain ter himself these in this are not naturalistic, beneath that flag. of impatient and cliques. "What matters it," says Mirbeau, "if a book be by naturalist, book of M. Huret, or symbolist, are non if it is good? Labels classification into schools anxious the suggests grow imitators This and rather than the robust sterility, sheltering form, is the most discouraging outlook. due how It would dilettante with to clothe to the originality itself behind element be too of a though Indeed their we author may shel

schools same

psychologist An sense." of weakness creative cult in much which grace. the

genius. of method

literary present to say that it was has known Renan

perhaps

epicureanism such attractive

it is in entire accord with it. This Certainly inquiry, too far lead but the of the would afield, however, promise those who draw the strength of future seems to us to be with their work for art's nique up and because from sake but in the the study of for truth's sake. close art is not reality, whose men as Hen It is such

are taking in fiction who and Rosny drama, on none of the work the less truly Zola, carrying name. not do call themselves his by they B. W. Welxs.