Pot-Bouille

Pot-Bouille, the tenth novel in the Rougon-Macquart series, is a satirical exploration of the lives of various residents in a Parisian apartment building.

The novel delves into themes of social realism, class struggle, and the often hypocritical nature of bourgeois society.

It follows characters such as Octave Mouret, a young man navigating the complexities of city life, and various other tenants whose opulent lifestyles contrast with their mundane and sometimes depraved realities.

The title 'Pot-Bouille' reflects the disparate and sometimes unpleasant elements mixed together, much like the ingredients in a stew.