The History of Literature 707 Emile Zola (with Robert Lethbridge) | Graham Greene's Only Ghost Story | My Last Book with Irina Mashinski
Jun 9, 2025
In this lively discussion, Robert Lethbridge, an esteemed scholar on Émile Zola, delves into the author's life and the socio-political climate of 19th-century France that shaped his work. He highlights Zola’s fearless stance in the Dreyfus Affair, directly linking it to themes of justice and determinism. Meanwhile, Irina Mashinski shares her poignant choice for her last book and reflects on the enduring power of poetry. The conversation also touches on Graham Greene's recently uncovered ghost story, exploring supernatural themes intertwined with childhood horror.
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Zola's Formative Challenges
- Émile Zola's early life was shaped by political instability and his father's death when he was six.
- Poverty and a search for a father figure deeply influenced his work and life trajectory.
Zola's Literary Drive
- Zola's fierce, assertive writing was driven by opposition to censorship and bourgeois values under Napoleon III.
- He believed literature and journalism were more powerful than politics for societal change.
Zola's Literary Ambition
- Zola modeled his novel cycle after Balzac's realism but aimed for a tighter structure based on heredity.
- His work shifted from historical to broadly modern social analysis, focusing on material realities.
