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K. G.  Whitehurst
2.5 stars actually. This is not one of Zola's better novels; in fact, this one will make you understand Victor Hugo's criticisms of the Naturalist school. It's full of late 19th century theories of criminality, some of the political machinations of the 2nd Empire, lots of railroad details (actually the most interesting of the tsunami of detail to make things realistic), and a completely chilling way in which a prosecutor under the Code Napoleon can throw a case. Yes, a DA can indict and convict ...more
Carol
Sep 28, 2009 marked it as to-read
Shelves: classic, have, 1001
Anaatasiia Shevchuk
Feb 11, 2011 rated it it was amazing
Jelena
May 17, 2011 marked it as to-read  ·  review of another edition
Laurentiu Lazar
Mar 21, 2012 marked it as to-read
Shelves: 1001-to-read
Tora
Apr 18, 2012 marked it as to-read
Anna
Feb 24, 2013 rated it it was amazing
James Wheeler
Jan 03, 2014 rated it it was amazing
Kathy
Jun 30, 2015 marked it as to-read
Reis
Jan 05, 2016 marked it as to-read  ·  review of another edition
Shelves: classics, french
Kat
Dec 20, 2020 marked it as to-read
Jurgen
Jan 05, 2023 marked it as interested  ·  review of another edition