Claude's Confession

by Émile Zola, Stephen R. Pastore

La Confession de Claude (Claude's Confession) was Emile Zola's first novel and his first attempt at what he would later call an "Experimental Novel." Published in Paris in 1865, it was quickly banned in the United States and Great Britain and was not translated into English for several decades. This is the first translation in nearly 150 years with an insightful and thought-provoking Introduction by one of the world's leading Emile Zola scholars, Stephen R. Pastore, who has dedicated himself to introducing Zola to a new generation of English-speaking readers all over the world, particularly in the United States.

Genres: France, Classics, Fiction, French Literature, 19th Century

200 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1865

About the author

Émile Zola was a prominent French novelist, journalist, and playwright widely regarded as a key figure in the development of literary naturalism. His work profoundly influenced both literature and society through its commitment to depicting reality with scientific objectivity and exploring the impact of environment and heredity on human behavior. Born and raised in France, Zola experienced early personal hardship following the death of his father, which deeply affected his understanding of social and economic struggles—a theme that would later permeate his writings.
Zola began his literary career working as a clerk for a publishing house, where he developed his skills and cultivated a passion for literature. His early novels, such as Thérèse Raquin, gained recognition for their intense psychological insight and frank depiction of human desires and moral conflicts. However, it was his monumental twenty-volume series, Les Rougon-Macquart, that established his lasting reputation. This cycle of novels offered a sweeping examination of life under the Second French Empire, portraying the lives of a family across generations and illustrating how hereditary traits and social conditions shape individuals’ destinies. The series embodies the naturalist commitment to exploring human behavior through a lens informed by emerging scientific thought.
Beyond his literary achievements, Zola was a committed social and political activist. His involvement in the Dreyfus Affair is one of the most notable examples of his dedication to justice. When Captain Alfred Dreyfus was wrongfully accused and convicted of treason, Zola published his famous open letter, J’Accuse…!, which condemned the French military and government for corruption and anti-Semitism. This act of courage led to his prosecution and temporary exile but played a crucial role in eventual justice for Dreyfus and exposed deep divisions in French society.
Zola’s personal life was marked by both stability and complexity. He married Éléonore-Alexandrine Meley, who managed much of his household affairs, and later had a long-term relationship with Jeanne Rozerot, with whom he fathered two children. Throughout his life, Zola remained an incredibly prolific writer, producing not only novels but also essays, plays, and critical works that investigated the intersections between literature, science, and society.
His legacy continues to resonate for its profound impact on literature and for his fearless commitment to social justice. Zola’s work remains essential reading for its rich narrative detail, social critique, and pioneering approach to the realistic portrayal of human life. His role in the Dreyfus Affair stands as a powerful example of the intellectual’s responsibility to speak truth to power.

Reviews

[Elizabeth (Alaska) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is dedicated to Zola's friends, Paul Cézanne and Jean-Baptiste Baille, who were known as "the three inseparables." The novel is presented as if the chapters were a succession of letters to the two of them. In these 'letters,' he tells his story.

The novel is said to be semi-autobiographical. I have read a bit about Zola's life, but not enough to know which parts are 'semi' and which parts are autobiography. Claude of the title, lives in poverty in a mansarde, or garret. He becomes aware of a young woman, a prostitue, on another floor in the building. Then, one day, she knocks on his door, saying she doesn't have money for rent and has been evicted. Can she please stay with him? Claude's feelings for this woman and for his lifestyle are the predominant theme of the novel.

This debut novel was somewhat scandalous in the mid-1860s, even in France (Zola lost his job with Hachette after its publication), and was banned in Victorian England and the United States. It was several decades before it was translated into English. I feel safe in saying that if Zola had not become a powerful writer, Claude's Confession would probably not have survived to the present day. It isn't downright awful - there is even a glimmer of what Zola might have to give us - but it isn't very good either.

He had raised his voice; he grasped my hands strongly, almost with anger. This must be all Jacques’ passion: a soulless passion, made up of logic and duty. Pale before him, my head half turned away, I smiled in contempt and anguish.

When I read this passage, I thought of how much passion there is in Zola. It isn't all sexual passion, although let's acknowledge that he did seem to have a fixation on the subject, but the passion of the soul. I'm thinking in particular The Masterpiece, where an artist's passion is the focus, but there are others as well.

I'm glad to have read this, even thought it is at best sitting pretty much at the bottom of my 3-star group.

[BAM doesn’t answer to her real name · Rating 4 out of 5]

Catching up with the classics # 9

RTC

[Blaine DeSantis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably a 3.5*** for me. I have never really read Zola before. I am familiar with many of his works but I decided that before I begin his 20-volume epic of Rougon-Macquart that I wanted to start at the beginning and read a few of his early works. This is a good effort, and probably very good considering it is his first novel and one that he, himself, deemed "experimental" in nature. It involves a young country boy from Provence who moves to Paris and instead of finding the greatness of the city he ends up having a prostitute move in with him, and then falls in love with her. We see all the temptations of youth and some wonderful self-awareness late in the book. Will probably try one more earlier book before I begin that series.

[Calzean · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first book Zola wrote and the first of his books I have read. I was impressed by Zola's poetic way of describing Claude's poverty, the Claude's naivety of the world he lived in and the analytical way of dissecting the five main characters.
In its day, this may have been a shocking story where Claude lives with a prostitute, hunger is everywhere and a young girl dies from despair.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Émile Zola's first novel exhibits a good deal of the power of language he would become famous for, without exhibiting notable power as a dramatic narrative. Ostensibly somewhat autobiographical, CLAUDE'S CONFESSION tells a first-person tale of a poverty-stricken young man who takes in a prostitute even more destitute than he, becomes deeply attached to her both romantically and as an exercise in salvation, only to learn that she may not only be unsalvageable but a threat to his own well-being. The story is replete with examples of actions and attitudes that irritate one in their naïvete, self-pity, and stupidity, yet at moments charity and compassion rule enough of the tale to elevate it into near-tragedy, if only transitorily.

[Camille · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5/5

[ülgen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fransız düşünce yapısına ve dönemin yaşayış tarzına olan büyük yabancılıkla zor ulaştığım kitabın ilk yarısı, ve hiç beklemediğim bir hızla beni sürükleyip yazarı daha çok tanımak ile bu insanları anlamak isteği oluşturan diğer yarısı...

[G. İlke · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Deneysel" olarak adlandırılan bu türün ilk örneği olan roman, alışık olmadığım bir türde olduğundan mıdır bilmiyorum ama beni epey zorladı. Hele ilk yarısında kitabı bırakıp bırakmama konusunda ciddi bir savaş verdim. (Spoiler: Laurence'in hiçbir iş yapmadan Claude'dan geçinmeye çalışması beni çok kızdırdı. Bir hayat kadınının neredeyse zorla sığındığı evde daha uyumlu ve güleryüzlü olmasını, ne bileyim, en azından işe yaramaya çalışmasını beklerdim.)
Özetle, benim için Zola kesinlikle bu değil. Terese Raquin ya da Germinal varken, esamesi okunmaz yani. Yine de külliyatı tamamlamak isteyenlerin okuması şart. Zola severlere; fakir bir delikanlı ile bir hayat kadını ilişkisinin natüralist biçimde anlatıldığı "İtiraf"ı (Claude İtiraf Ediyor) tavsiye ederim. =)

[Hüseyin Çötel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kesinlikte okumayi tercih ettigim kitaplardan degil okurken surekli farkli dusunceler icinde kaybolup durdum, oysa ben kendi gunluk hayatimdan uzaklasmak icin kitap okumayi tercih ediyorum. Bir dunya kurmakta basarisiz olmus bir roman diye dusunuyorum. Fakat yine de kitabin ikinci yarisinda aldatildigini farketmesiyle baslayan bir cozulme var ve oradaki dusuncelerin catismasi lezzetliydi.

[Fanda Kutubuku · Rating 4 out of 5]

First book for #Zoladdiction2017

[BookishStitcher · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[sslyb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Zola’s first novel. Glad it wasn’t the first Zola novel I’ve read. If it had been I doubt I would ever read another. That would have been a shame. I love so many of his works but not this one.

[Elise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the kind of book Zola has become famous for, Claude’s Confession is written in the first person point of view, is filled with moralizing, and is an unabashedly romanticized portrait of poverty. However, Zola fans will recognize the seeds of his later hard boiled Naturalism in the character of Laurence, an ugly, starving, prematurely aged prostitute. This book has been called obscene and pornographic by 19th century critics, which is why it was banned and not translated into English until decades after it was first published. In my 21st century opinion, Claude’s Confession is none of those things. In fact, it is kind of sappy and a bit cliche, truth be told. That said, it was mercifully short and it’s always fun to escape to the garret of a starving artist in 19th century Paris every once in a while. Last, I might have given this one four stars if it hadn’t been for all the grammar errors and typos. Shame on you, Emile Zola Society. You can do better. Hire a competent editor.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Free download available at Project Gutenberg

Dagny and I made the proofing of this book for Free Literature and Project Gutenberg will publish it.

CONTENTS
I. A MANSARDE IN THE LATIN QUARTER
II. a poet's longings
III. THE YOUNG HARVEST-GIRL
IV. TEMPTATION
V. PAQUERETTE
VI. DESPAIR
VII. LAURENCE
VIII. A MISSION PROM ON HIGH
IX. THE COURSE OF REFORMATION
X. THE EMBROIDERY STRIP
XI. ON THE WAY TO THE BALL
XII. THE PUBLIC BALL
XIII. AN ACCEPTANCE OF REALITY
XIV. JACQUES AND MARIE
XV. BITING POVERTY
XVI. REMINISCENCES
XVII. CLAUDE'S LOVE
XVIII. JACQUES' SUPPER
XIX. A TRIP TO THE COUNTRY
XX. A BITTER AVOWAL
XXI. A HORRIBLE PROPOSITION
XXII. THE SHADOWS ON THE WALL
XXIII. PRACTICAL ADVICE
XXIV. SAD REFLECTIONS
XXV. THE FAIR
XXVI. AT marie's bedside
XXVII. MARIE'S DEATH
XXVIII. LAURENCE'S DEPARTURE
XXIX. CONCLUSION

[Boots LookingLand · Rating 2 out of 5]

zola's first novel. i read it as a prelude to concluding the Rougon-Macquart series and found it very Zola-like in certain regards (his juxtaposition of wealth and poverty), but a bit redundant and navel-gazey as well (on the part of the narrator, Claude). themes here are matured and more interesting in his other works. i thin this one is pretty skippable, though of some interest in being his first.

also, i was disappointed that it didn't scandalize me at all (i was hoping for something more challenging). i guess nothing will beat The Earth for just sheer "oh my God did that just happen" in a Zola book.

[Jennifer Gómez · Rating 2 out of 5]

Es la primera novela escrita por Zola, narrada en epístolas y de carácter autobiográfico. No me gustó y no sentí que estuviese leyendo a Zola, salvo por la atmósfera preponderante.
Quizás al ser escrita desde su experiencia personal, plagada inicialmente de sacrificios y miserias, me resultó demasiado melodramática. Realmente está escrita con emociones muy crudas e irreflexivas, propias de una mente joven e ingenua.
Sí debo reconocer que la descripción minuciosa de la buhardilla donde convive la pareja, resulta tan asfixiante y deprimente, en consonancia con los sentimientos de Claude.

[shaihanah]

مقززة جدا ...
ليس كترجمة بل كقصة ...
أي فكرة تجعل من تعري جسد المرأة فن لا تروق لي .
كلود رسام ..تقف عند بابه إمرأة في يوم ماطر ..
فيساعدها وتدخل إلى منزله ..وتبدأ قصة رسم الجسد العاري ...
لا أعلم أنا لم تروق لي أبدا ...رغم عدم وجود وصف جنسي بحت لكن القصة عن ذاتي لم تعجبني كفكرة

[Tessa Nadir · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sunt o mare admiratoare a lui Zola si mai ales a fabulosului ciclu romanesc "Les Rougon-Macquart". Este o oglinda fidela a societatii franceze din sec. XIX si o adevarata comoara a literaturii universale. Mi-ar placea sa revina in atentia cititorilor si criticilor, neputand fi comparata cu nicio alta opera, decat poate cu "Comedia umana" a lui Balzac.
"La confession de Claude" a aparut in 1865 reprezentand debutul lui Zola si prima incercare a ceea ce astazi numim "roman experimental". Asa cum titlul o arata textul are un aer confesional, Claude spunandu-ne despre deziluzia sa in ceea ce priveste Parisul, asa cum e vazut prin ochii unui tanar provincial. El ajunge la Paris cu multe vise legate de viata de artist, pe care le pierde unul cate unul sfarsind inconjurat de saracie, parasit de prieteni si in bratele unei prostituate. Aceasta si ocupatia ei sunt aspru judecate, desfraul si satisfactia trupeasca fiind pe atunci condamnate. Era o rusine pentru un tanar bine crescut sa ajunga intr-o relatie atat de viciata.
La inceput Claude e dezgustat de Laurence considerand-o murdara, apoi insa o intelege:
"Pentru ca era pangarita puteam s-o pangaresc si eu, nepedepsit?"
El vrea sa o mantuiasca prin propria puritate. Insa atunci cand se indragosteste de ea Claude sufera ingrozitor, pentru ca nu reuseste in niciun chip s-o duca pe drumul cel bun.
Asa cum bine stim romanele lui Zola au provocat scandal si au fost rau primite de public si critica, deoarece au atins subiecte incomode si au spus adevaruri rusinoase despre societatea franceza.
Vedem si aici un Paris al aparentelor, stralucitor, bogat, dar cu periferii in care traiesc oameni la limita saraciei si a decentei morale.
In concluzie, nu este cea mai buna carte a lui Zola, insa poate fi citita pentru imaginea societatii acelor vremuri pe care o zugraveste. Dar si pentru analiza sufletului pe care o face unui tanar artist ce cade in aceste capcane vicioase ale Parisului.

[Dan Crews · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thesaurus of Poverty. There is a great level of intimacy in this first novel of Zola. He reports back to his provincial childhood chums, one of which happens to be Paul Cezanne, in epistle form of his experiences in the big city of Paris, of the mid 1860's. He is young and poor and the people he meets are youth and poor. He falls in 'love' by accident to a prostitute in which he attempts to reform with his infinite wisdom of 20. He puts her on a pedestal and tries to worship her, which she has no idea how to deal with. The novel plays out in his solipsistic mind. Is his obsessive 'love' is only a cure for his loneliness?

[towner77 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is Zola’s first novel, and a very worthy effort indeed.

Written in the form of 29 letters to old friends in the south of France from a young narrator who’s come to live alone in Paris in pursuit of a literary career, I very much enjoyed the book and I’m very impressed at how mature this young Zola came across. My only regret, as with all great works from foreign tongues, I wish I read in the native language.

I wholly recommend Claude’s Confession for someone searching out insight into the initial and developing skill of a premier author.

[Barry Cunningham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite the first novel from Zola!
I've been reading early novels from many authors complete collections of their works. Frequently the early works of famous authors are a struggle. I was pleased to find that this was engrossing from the start.
The story is perhaps a bit tawdry, but the narrator's voice is raw and compelling, his descriptions, evocative. At times I was reminded of Poe, Dostoevsky, Lovecraft, Huysmans, Tolstoy, and, of course, La Bohème.
Since the narrator is 20 years old, the over-the-top style of narration, while at times a bit irritating, did not seem out of character.

[Stephen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Plodding & extremely tedious. It might have been the author’s intention to invoke claustrophobia by the characters barely moving. It succeeded - by the time I gave up on this about three quarters through I just wanted them to just DO something instead of thinking or talking.

[Carles Muñoz Miralles · Rating 1 out of 5]

Qué lejos está esta primera novela de las grandes obras de Zola. Una prosa pretenciosa, una trama argumental pobre, que recuerda demasiado a La dama de las camelias. Habrá que releer Los Rougon-Macquart para quitarme el mal gusto de la boca.

[Jason · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’m a big fan of Zola and that’s the only reason I read this but it is one of his very early but pls and not really worth reading…. I hope people only discover this after they have read some of his very best works

[Janelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

A man contemplates love amid immense poverty in Paris. Strangely readable but not sure what he wanted to say. Zola’s first novel .

[Jonah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilariously indulgent. Every page is dowsed in the most elegant prose.

[anto mourguet]

me reí mucho y siento que ese no era el propósito

[Ezechiel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zola’s first novel. It was particularly memorable, but also not unpleasant to read.

[Uttiya Roy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first by Zola, essentially an epistolary delves into the human psyche which is battered by the lure of romance. It plays around with emotions in a poetic tongue that never wavers. The decisions and the problems seem to be close, and real too. At the end of the day, the book seems like a desperate prayer, or even a sermon to the youth who would fall in love. There is a certain aura of decadence I can associate with the protagonist, a student who loses his touch with reality as love intoxicates him, as Laurence draws him out.
Definitely recommended

[Andreea Meleaca · Rating 3 out of 5]

I regret not reading this sooner. It was the first book I read by him and only after I finished it I came here and found out that it was the first book he wrote. I'll admit that it may be a bit gloomy for some people but for me it was the perfect blend of shadow and light.
The way in which emotions are described is outstanding and if you're a fan of raw narrative you'll surely enjoy this read. Even if the atmosphere may seem too claustrophobic and stuffy here and there, it's worth reading at least because of the very detailed picturesque (or not quite sometimes) France.