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The Ladies' Paradise (Les Rougon-Macquart #11)

Questions About The Ladies' Paradise (Les Rougon-Macquart #11)

by Émile Zola

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Answered Questions (3)

Hi! This may be a long shot- does anyone know of other stories, novels, poems, or plays featuring women swept up in shopping? I am researching female consumerism and this book is, to my knowledge, the earliest account of a department store and all its trappings. It's also the first account I know of shoplifting & employee theft. Need more lit portraying petty theft & female consumption. Thank you!! Thank you!!
Spock's Cat No, unfortunately. But the introductory essay to my copy of "Au Bonheur Des Dames" cites two studies that may be helpful (if you don't know about them…moreNo, unfortunately. But the introductory essay to my copy of "Au Bonheur Des Dames" cites two studies that may be helpful (if you don't know about them already): "Just Looking: Consumer Culture in Dreiser, Gissing, and Zola" by Rachel Bowlby (1985); and "When Ladies Go A-Thieving" by Elaine Abelson (1989). Good luck with your research!

Edit: I suspect you're after stories of 'respectable' woman gone bad but Moll Flanders was a thief ("Moll Flanders", Daniel Defoe, 1722). She may have been more of a pickpocket, but she did get sent to Newgate for stealing a roll of fabric. Also, I have found references to the following, a short story published in Blackwood's Magazine, January 1838, by Thomas de Quincey called 'The Household Wreck' about a wife who is arrested on charges of shoplifting. I can't say any more about it as I've not read it myself.(less)
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The Ladies Paradise CAN be a stand alone!?
Emma You could read Pot-Bouille before reading this one since it has the same main character at a slightly earlier stage in his career, and is also a lot o…moreYou could read Pot-Bouille before reading this one since it has the same main character at a slightly earlier stage in his career, and is also a lot of good fun to read, imo! But not absolutely essential to enjoy this one.(less)
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Can The Ladies' Paradise be read as a stand-alone novel, or does this one require a lot of Rougon-Macquart backstory? I have not read any of this series.
Michaela No need to read more of Rougon - Macquart, there is not much connection apart from Mouret (one of the main characters) being related to the clan.
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