THERUSH FOR THE SPOIL
(LA CURÉE).
A REALISTIC NOVEL.
BY
EMILE ZOLA.
WITH A PREFACE BY GEORGE MOORE.
TRANSLATED WITHOUT ABRIDGMENT FROM THE 34TH FRENCH EDITION.
Illustrated with Twelve Page Engravings.
LONDON:
VIZETELLY & Co., 42 CATHERINE STREET, STRAND.
1886.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
PREFACE.
The public and the press have agreed that "L'Assommoir"is M. Zola's chef d'œuvre. Against this verdict I have noobjection to offer. I believe it will meet with posterity'sendorsement. But although "L'Assommoir" may liftits head the highest, there are many other volumes in theRougon-Macquart series which stand on, and speak fromequally lofty platforms of art. In my opinion, these are"La Faute de l'Abbé Mouret," "La Conquête de Plassans,"and "La Curée."
I have spoken before of Zola as an epic poet: he is thismore than he is anything, and as he is more epic in "LaCurée" than elsewhere ("L'Assommoir" and "La Fautede l'Abbé Mouret" always excepted), it follows that itmust be one of the best and most characteristic of hisworks. The