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Gorgeous descriptions of Les Halles, the old market of Paris. The Belly of Paris also illuminates the vortex of social and political upheaval of th... (show more)
The Belly of Paris (Oxford World's Classics)
Unjustly deported to Devil's Island following Louis-Napoleon's coup-d'etat in December 1851, Florent Quenu escapes and returns to Paris. He finds the city changed beyond recognition. The old Marche des Innocents has been knocked down as part of Haussmann's grand program of urban
reconstruction, replaced by Les Halles, the spectacular new food markets. Disgusted by a bourgeois society whose devotion to food is inseparable from its devotion to the Government, Florent attempts an insurrection. ... (show more)
Unjustly deported to Devil's Island following Louis-Napoleon's coup-d'etat in December 1851, Florent Quenu escapes and returns to Paris. He finds the city changed beyond recognition. The old Marche des Innocents has been knocked down as part of Haussmann's grand program of urban
reconstruction, replaced by Les Halles, the spectacular new food markets. Disgusted by a bourgeois society whose devotion to food is inseparable from its devotion to the Government, Florent attempts an insurrection. Les Halles, apocalyptic and destructive, play an active role in Zola's picture of a
world in which food and the injustice of society are inextricably linked.
This is the first English translation in fifty years of Le Ventre de Paris (The Belly of Paris). The third in Zola's great cycle, Les Rougon-Macquart, it is as enthralling as Germinal, Therese Raquin, and the other novels in the series. Its focus on the great Paris food hall, Les
Halles--combined with Zola's famous impressionist descriptions of food--make this a particularly memorable novel. Brian Nelson's lively translation captures the spirit of Zola's world and his Introduction illuminates the use of food in the novel to represent social class, social attitudes, political
conflicts, and other aspect of the culture of the time. The bibliography and notes ensure that this is the most critically up-to-date edition of the novel in print. (show less)
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This book is best appreciated in small doses. The never-ending descriptions and minute details can be tiring, but as far as historical novels go I ... (show more)
This book is best appreciated in small doses. The never-ending descriptions and minute details can be tiring, but as far as historical novels go I enjoyed this one more than most others. (show less)
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"The Belly of Paris" is Zola's 3rd book in his Les Rougon-Macquart cycle, and though I enjoyed it I also have to say that I was glad to finish it. I believe it to be a minor work in the cycle, and though there are some marvelous descriptive passages on the old Les Halles marketplace in Paris -- one in particular, referred to sometimes as the "Cheese Symphony" (it takes place in a cheese shop setting) is particularly wonderful -- I found the story to trite, repetitive, laz... (show more)
"The Belly of Paris" is Zola's 3rd book in his Les Rougon-Macquart cycle, and though I enjoyed it I also have to say that I was glad to finish it. I believe it to be a minor work in the cycle, and though there are some marvelous descriptive passages on the old Les Halles marketplace in Paris -- one in particular, referred to sometimes as the "Cheese Symphony" (it takes place in a cheese shop setting) is particularly wonderful -- I found the story to trite, repetitive, lazily presented, predictable, and a meter or two beyond the boundaries of believability. The new Oxford World's Classic translation was top-notch (I had tried in the past to read the original Henry Vizetelly translation from 1988 -- the only one available before this new one by Brian Nelson, first offered in late 2007 -- and to no avail), though, and as the book is not even 300 pages it certainly should not be skipped by any reader wishing for the Les Rougon-Macquart experience. (show less)
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A fine book. The characters are very well developed, the story line is straight forward and moves along crisply, and details of the sights, sounds and smells of the Les Halles market are vivid.
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