A review by borealis85
The Earth by Douglas Parmée, Émile Zola

4.0

Jean from the [b:The Debacle|19216733|The Debacle (Classics)|Émile Zola|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1386278798s/19216733.jpg|3522286] is in this book between the war in italy and the campaign described in the "debacle".

So vivid, so many characters... so much bitter realism..

The earth is a huge work in quality, even considered by Zola his best. Jean after the War comes with his army buddy Buteau to the country side and in the next 10 years there is a whole lot of going on in the Family of Fouan in which Jean ultimately marries in to and gets bitterly disappointed. I am giving this 4.5 stars, I would have given it five if it would have had a happy ending. Now i am bitterly confused and disgusted with humankind. Adding to that is the fact that i already know that Jean is not going to have the happiest of times in the "Debacle" either.