Thérèse Raquin is leading a life of utter misery. Although Zola's attempt to portray the situation in a purely scientific, detached manner is unsuccessful (as any such experiment done through the medium of literature must be) the story of the two lovers and their ill-fated affair is a highly engaging one and Zola's considerable skills as a writer are effectively employed in this novel.-Submitted by Elizabeth Madden The background histories of both are presented, as well as their current circumstances (the symptoms), enabling us to understand the motivations for their later actions: namely, adultery and murder, and their consequences: madness and suicide. This novel was described by Zola as an attempt to "forensically examine" the symptoms, physiological and psychological effects and consequences of the exercise of forbidden, adulterous passions on the part of the main protagonists, Therese Raquin and her lover, the feckless, would be artist, Laurent. It is the kind of book you will want to read more than once.-Submitted by AnnaLaura Brown Most of the symbolism is lost in the English translations and so reading the original French is much better. It is also quite scary but at the same time very gripping and interesting. The story contains quite a bit of symbolism most of which relates to animals. It was also originally released one chapter at a time in a Parisian newspaper and then was later compiled into a novel. Therese Raquin was originally published in French by Emile Zola in the 19th century. Translated by Ernest Alfred Vizetelly (1853-1922).
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