Nana (Penguin Classics)

Nana (Penguin Classics)

published	September 30th 1972 by Penguin Classics
first published	2002
binding	Paperback
isbn	0140442634 (isbn13: 9780140442632)
ebook
pages	480
description	Nana opens in 1867, the year of the World Fair, when Paris, thronged by a cosmopolitan elite, was a perfect target for Zola's scathing denunciation of...more [close] Nana opens in 1867, the year of the World Fair, when Paris, thronged by a cosmopolitan elite, was a perfect target for Zola's scathing denunciation of hypocrisy and fin-de-siecle moral corruption. In this new translation, the fate of Nana--the Helen of Troy of the second Empire, and daughter of the laundress in L'Assommoir--is now rendered in racy, stylish English. [close]
date added	03-25-07 edit book

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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 625)

theduckthief

theduckthief rated it:

(review of isbn 3746611091)

08/20/08

Read in July, 2008

recommends it for: people who liked "Lorna Doone"

"Everyone has been harassing me with Nana ever since this morning. I've met over twenty people and it's been nothing but Nana this and Nana that! How should I know anything about her? Do you think I know every girl in Paris? Nana is one of Bordenave's discoveries. She must be something magnificent!" - page 2

The Good:

Nana is the discovery of Bordenave, manager of the Variety Theatre and plays the role of Venus in the operetta "La belle Helene". She...more

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Jeff

Jeff rated it:

(review of isbn 3746611091)

04/13/08

Read in April, 2008

recommended to Jeff by: Ryan Chaffee

zola describe the "philosophical subject" of _nana_ as "a whole society rushing to get sex," and for the first hundred pages the book is exactly that simple in its Second Empire moral muckraking and denunciation of upper-class hypocrisy; the women, regardless of their occupation (though most are idle rich or actresses), are quite literally prostitutes, sleeping with rich men in exchange for gifts, money, estates, etc., while their husbands not only acquiesce but operate as vi...more zola describe the "philosophical subject" of _nana_ as "a whole society rushing to get sex," and for the first hundred pages the book is exactly that simple in its Second Empire moral muckraking and denunciation of upper-class hypocrisy; the women, regardless of their occupation (though most are idle rich or actresses), are quite literally prostitutes, sleeping with rich men in exchange for gifts, money, estates, etc., while their husbands not only acquiesce but operate as virtual pimps, securing their own financial fortunes through their wives' sexual "indiscretions."

while zola would undoubtedly ascribe his characters' behaviors as arising from their temporal and locational millieu (late 19th century paris), it strains the imagination to believe that his "naturalism" precludes any possibility of inherent human traits like loyalty, jealousy or empathy.

once zola has levied his initial moral indictment (or his j'accuse, as the case may be), though, he moves on to subtler territory, infusing the novel with difficult questions of class relations, gender expectations and the role of religion in a hedonistic society. The characters of count muffat and his wife sabine, the mysteriously pious venot and nana herself, particularly, provide nuanced portraits of moral and class struggle in a paris bordering on absolute self-destruction.

set against the backdrop of 1869's paris world fair and the rise and fall of nana as a society figure, the novel also presents a number of stunning set pieces: the reflexive gestures of the theater production _the golden venus_ and fauchery's metaphorical "golden fly" article; the grand prix of paris horse race, which recalls the racing scene in _anna karenina_ (both as a narrative occurrence and a metaphorical reflection on that narrative); the wedding celebration of muffat/sabine's daughter to the low-life daguenet, itself a marker of upper crust decline into moral corruption; the equisitely detailed descriptions of backstage theater life; etc. etc.

there can be no doubt that _nana_ is fundamentally didactic, but zola's righteousness is offset by moments of episodic entertainment sufficient to sustain one's enjoyment throughout. ...less

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Abailart

Abailart rated it:

(review of isbn 3746611091)

06/24/08

bookshelves: fiction

Read in June, 2008

Joy unlimited. A long, long time ago my kindly Headmaster recommended I broaden my reading prior to university, and gave me Germinal. I read it somewhat dutifully and marked as done, a knowledge of Zola. Now, man years later, I can read at last. And this book that has been staring from my shelf for years has bombed me out. Nana is a carbonated torrent of the most high speed and energetic writing I have come across. Decay, decadence, death, power, class, cruelty, the brilliant equation of the mus...more

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Cassiel

Cassiel rated it:

(review of isbn 3746611091)

03/22/08

bookshelves: 03-08, classic

My curiosity is now satisfied, and I doubt that I will ever read another book by Zola.

Even given the Victorian era in which the book was written, the obsession with morality is surprising.

As long as he remains an observer and recorder, Zola's writing is impressive; evocative descriptions of 19th century Paris and the people of its underworld. The instant he lets his prejudices show, the writing deteriorates into diatribes about the holy penis vs. the diabolical vagina.

Whereas Anna ...more

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Elissa

Elissa rated it:

(review of isbn 3746611091)

06/03/08

bookshelves: currently-reading

So far it reminds me of Anna Karenina. The plot wavers from the actual account of Nana herself to various affairs and the comings and goings of what seem to be minor characters.
The visual and audio descriptions of the opera house and various other settings, however, are entrancing.

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ace

ace rated it:

(review of isbn 3746611091)

06/17/08

Read in June, 2008

This is a very important book, but rather over the top, intensifying as it goes on. Nana rises from the gutters to wreak (sexy) revenge on the rich and empowered men of France for the unconscious grudge of her ancestors. This was my second time reading it.

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sanaz

sanaz rated it:

(review of isbn 3746611091)

05/11/07

bookshelves: novel

a wonderful book. how a woman ( like nana) live. how many hearts she break! how many men, accept the death instead of losing her in duels!!! what a great life!!! and how she die, alone without any lover!!!

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Hilary

Hilary rated it:

(review of isbn 3746611091)

04/30/08

Has a copy to sell/swap — Read in April, 2008

While difficult to get into, I ended up thoroughly enjoying this book. The extravagance and debauchery of the period make it like reading a tabloid from that era. It was good enough that I will read Zola!

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Trajan

Trajan rated it:

(review of isbn 3746611091)

08/07/07

Read in July, 2007

recommends it for: folks who like Zola

I enjoyed this more than Germinal, which was simpy to depressing for my particular taste. Great writing, of course, but not as timeless as some of his other books. Also, can be a bit thick at times.

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1 comments

Lily

Lily rated it:

(review of isbn 3746611091)

03/18/07

Read in September, 2006

A realist approach to the decadence of the 19th century Parisian society. Good comparative study to realist/modernist French paintings.

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Mo rated it:

(review of isbn 3746611091)

03/21/08

I have a gorgeous old copy of this book with titillating cutout drawings of women and men in silhouette in suggestive poses.

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Adam

Adam rated it:

02/20/08

recommended to Adam by: my friend Douglas
recommends it for: Anyone into French lit

MUST READ!!! I've read this book several times and laugh out load every time. I just love the way Zola describes Nana!

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Molly

Molly rated it:

(review of isbn 3746611091)

03/07/08

quite the warning to anyone thinking of taking up the life of a courtesan. the last page is a winner.

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Geoffrey

Geoffrey rated it:

(review of isbn 3746611091)

06/04/07

More a series of loosely-connected vignettes than a novel. But they're really, really good vignettes.

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Amanda

Amanda rated it:

(review of isbn 3746611091)

11/25/07

Trying to get through this one...is a bit tedious...not as exciting as some of Zola's others...

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Anjuli

Anjuli rated it:

(review of isbn 3746611091)

12/12/07

A lovely introduction to prostitutes and courtesans in late 19th century France.

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1 comments

Miranda

Miranda rated it:

(review of isbn 3746611091)

04/28/08

Read in April, 2008

Woman devolves into utter monster by the end of Zola's novel. Yikes.

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Elisabeth

Elisabeth rated it:

(review of isbn 3746611091)

02/22/08

bookshelves: currently-reading

I love Zola -- great to read before drifting off to sleep.

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Alice

Alice rated it:

(review of isbn 3746611091)

05/05/08

Zola kind of really didn't like the ladies, did he?

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Irmgard

Irmgard rated it:

(review of isbn 3746611091)

01/03/08

bookshelves: to-read

Read in January, 1975

recommends it for: all

It's a sad story with many thoughts about a life.

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book data (includes all editions)

avg rating (all editions): 3.81 (453 ratings)
avg rating (this edition): 3.86 (92 ratings)
number of reviews: 33

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