In this his masterpiece which centres on a strike in 1860's N. France, Zola not only brings to life the desperate needs, the cruelty and greed, the love and humanity of his characters - be they the poverty-stricken miners, the idealistic Marxist, the arrogant anarchist or the comfort-loving bourgeoisie - he plunges you, almost literally, into the depths of the mine itself: the smells, the heat, the claustrophobia, the noise, the constant brooding presence of its awfulness. Truly unforgettable.
(Jenny Baker - bwl 64 Spring 2012 ) |
