"the disappearance of emile zola" takes readers on a strangely familiar history journey that could be springing from the modern page. Further proof that while the number of the year progresses, humanity does not. Thank you for approving this title for me and I'm sorry it has taken so long for me to read and review.

Librarything review
https://www.librarything.com/work/18913286

Well written and captivating. The Dreyfus Affair - L'affaire Dreyfus - was a shocking political scandal in late 1800's France. An innocent man being condemned through falsified documents and other means. While much has been written about this historical event, Èmile Zola's role in taking a stand against the cover up has not been detailed or addressed. This captivating and engaging historical novel shares the life of Èmile Zola during this upheaval. Not only was is reputation as a well-known author hanging in the balance; but, also his life. Michael Rosen brings this historical drama to life with accuracy and verve. An intricately woven narrative reflecting the reality of a dark period in history for France.

Meticulously researched and demonstrating an obvious, and deserved, admiration for his subject, Michael Rosen’s account of Emile Zola’s stay in London whither he had fled from his native France to avoid the fallout from his defence of Dreyfus opens up a little known episode of the writer’s life. It’s a really interesting book, for sure, but I found it perhaps a little too detailed at times, which slowed the narrative down on occasion. Rosen quotes extensively form Zola's letters to his children, for example, encouraging them to do better at school and so on, and although this aspect of the private Zola holds a certain fascination it all became a bit repetitive at times. Rosen largely succeeds in making his subject come alive but overall there could have been a bit of editing to make the tale rattle along at a more compelling pace.

I was attracted to this book as I enjoy Emile Zola’s work but, in my ignorance, did not know about the Dreyfus case or his role in it. This is a fascinating book which I expect has taken years to pull together given the breadth it covers and the amount of personal accounts which are recreated. The book balances personal details about Zola, his wife Alexandrine and his other family with Jeanne (children Denise and Jacques), his time in London and outlines his own politics within the wider socio-political backdrop in France and the UK. Zola was publicly outspoken against anti-Semitism at a time when other socialists where not being so bold. I particularly appreciated that this story is personal to Michael Rosen with a number of small mentions of his own family history which are fitting to the narrative. I would recommend this book highly to anyone with a particular interest in Zola’s life and work.

The book also includes a short ghost story that Zola wrote whilst living in England and the letter he newspaper L'Aurore in 1898. Thanks to NetGalley and Faber and Faber.