Chronology -- Childhood and youth -- The first rungs of the ladder -- Theories -- Plans -- Methods -- Frustrations and accomplishments from La fortune des Rougon to Son excellence Eugène Rougon -- Success : L'Assommoir -- The battle of naturalism from Une page d'amour (1878) to La Joie de vivre (1884) -- The top of the ladder : Germinal -- L'Œuvre and La Terre -- Jeanne Rozerot : finis to the Rougon-Macquart -- New accomplishments and controversies : The Dreyfus Case ; Sudden death -- Conclusion
Summary
A criticism of the author who attacked the corruption and surmounted the prejudices of his time
